Two Syrian MPs quit parliament over bloodshed

[Turborama]

Source: AFP Via AsiaOnline

DAMASCUS - Two Syrian MPs from the protest hub city of Daraa on Saturday told Al-Jazeera television they were quitting parliament in protest at the bloodshed in their country.

"I announce my resignation from parliament," Khalil al-Rifai, a deputy from the southern city said in remarks broadcast by Al-Jazeera.

The satellite channel said he became the second MP from Daraa to quit after Nasser al-Hariri, who earlier announced his resignation also on Al-Jazeera, saying he was frustrated because he could not protect his constituents.

Rifai echoed the sentiment, saying he could not "protect the people who brought me to parliament."

Read more: http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/World/Story/A1Story20110423-275254.html

[Turborama]

1. AJE: Syrian legislators quit over crackdown

Two MPs resign from parliament as outrage at government's violent response to pro-democracy protests spreads.
Last Modified: Apr 23 2011 17:11

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Nasser al-Hariri and Khalil al-Rifaei, independent MPs who represent the city of Daraa, where scores of protesters have been killed, both separately told Al Jazeera on Saturday that they were resigning over the killings of demonstrators.

"I feel sorry for those who were killed in Houran today and yesterday by the bullets of security forces, despite the fact that the president has promised no live ammunition by security forces at all," al-Hariri said.

He was referring to the deaths of protesters a day earlier, as well as the deaths of mourners killed on Saturday when security forces opened fire at a funeral procession.

"Being an MP I feel the need to step down, as long as I am unable to protect the voters killed by live ammunition and so I feel better to resign," he said.

Full article: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/20114231492375311.html


Map of April 22 'Great Friday' protests across Syria