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Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704517404576222350109783770.html?KEYWORDS=Israel
Syria Regime Rocked by Protests
(Wall Street Journal) Farnaz Fassihi and Jay Solomon - Thousands of protesters demanding political liberalization marched in cities across Syria on Friday, an unprecedented display of public dissent that prompted violent clashes with security forces and left dozens dead and injured. Across Syria, security forces battled the crowds with batons and sticks, in some instances firing at the public and arresting dozens of people. In Damascus, a vast pro-Assad rally took place. Hundreds of cars plastered with pictures of the president descended on the central Umayyad Square. Some U.S., European and Israeli officials saw the potential weakening of Assad's government - a close ally of Iran - as an important opening to significantly undermine Tehran's role in the region.