Demonstrators in Babila, Yalda and Beit Sahm Protest Armed Groups’ Attempts to Hinder Reconciliation

DAMASCUS COUNTRYSIDE, (ST)- Hundreds of people from the towns of Babila, Yalda and Beit Sahm in Damascus countryside took to the streets on Friday to protest against the armed groups’ practices which hinder establishing a hoped-for reconciliation that enhances security and stability in these areas.

Local sources told SANA that demonstrators chanted slogans refusing terrorism and calling for reconciliation in order to attain security and stability. The demonstrators also urged adherence to national unity and stressed their keenness on achieving reconciliation, calling on the stranger gunmen to leave the towns and reiterating that terrorism has brought nothing but destruction and suffering.

 The people of the three towns had organized several demonstrations against Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists and had direct clashes with members of this terror group to express their absolute rejection to the presence of takfiri organizations in the towns, calling on the takfiri terrorists to leave the entire southern countryside of Damascus.

According to the sources, gunmen of the “Jeish al-Ababeel” group shot fire against the demonstrators to disperse and frighten them.

Within the government’s efforts to make national reconciliation process a success, competent authorities in cooperation with reconciliation committees in the three towns have settled the legal status of many gunmen who surrendered to the authorities and handed over their weapons.       

  Hamda Mustafa