Syria Resumes Trial of 22 People Involved in Damascus Attack
AP 2004/12/1
Damascus
The trial of 22 people accused of involvement in a rare attack by gunmen in Syria's capital resumed Wednesday, with prosecutors demanding that the defendants be convicted on murder and smuggling charges, a defense lawyer said.
Two attackers, a policeman and a civilian passer-by were killed in the April 27 clash in Mazza neighborhood when gunmen detonated a bomb and opened fire. Security forces engaged them in a 90-minute gunbattle.
The lawyer, Anwar Al Bunni, said the prosecution on Wednesday asked that the 22 be incriminated on charges of "forming a gang of evildoers, smuggling explosives and weapons and carrying out operations of killing and vandalism."
The court then adjourned until Dec. 15, Bunni said.
The trial of the 22 attacks had opened on Oct. 27.
The Syrian government initially called the clash a terrorist attack a rarity in this tightly controlled country. But Syrian officials later said the attack was a homegrown, isolated incident, backing away from suggestions that international terrorists were responsible.
Separately, Bunni, who is also a human rights activist, said authorities have rounded up 21 Assyrians in the northeastern province of Hasaka for taking part in an Oct. 17 demonstration demanding that the government arrest an Arab who killed two members of the Assyrian community earlier.
Bunni said the 21, including four adolescents, were arrested few days ago.
Syria's Assyrian population is estimated at about more than 500,000 people. About 200,000 live in Hasaka and Qamishli in northeastern Syria. While they enjoy freedom of worship, some Assyrians seek minority status to promote their language, Syriac, which only Assyrian churches now teach.
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