Syrians mark uprising anniversary

DAMASCUS:

Syrians gathered on Saturday to commemorate the 14th anniversary of their uprising with a public demonstration in Damascus for the first time since president Bashar al-Assad was toppled.

The rally in Damascus's Umayyad Square was the first in the capital after years of repression under Assad, during which the square was the sole preserve of the ousted president's supporters.

Activists called on people to hold similar demonstrations in the major cities of Homs, Idlib and Hama under the slogan "Syria is victorious".

Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani hailed the anniversary, saying on X: "We will remain indebted to the first cry of freedom, which erupted in Daraa, the cradle of the Syrian revolution, and spread to all cities. We will remain loyal to the great sacrifices made by our people over more than 14 years."

By the afternoon, dozens of people had gathered in Umayyad Square, amid a heavy security presence.