Syria Curbs Kurdish Riots for a Merger with Iraq's Kurdistan

[Aidoneus]

Syria Curbs Kurdish Riots for a Merger with Iraq's Kurdistan
Beirut, Updated 16 Mar 04, 11:39

President Assad was reported Tuesday to be using a double-edged policy of 'hit-negotiate' to harness the worst-ever anti-government riots in northeastern Syria by Kurds agitating for a merger with autonomous Kurdistan in northern Iraq.

The United States has interfered with the Syrian authorities to exercise tolerance and refrain from a harsh crackdown on restless ethnic minorities following the weekend riots in the northeastern cities of Hasakah and Qamishli close to the borders of Iraq and Turkey.

But one report in the Beirut media said Damascus was in no mood to show mercy to rioters who lowered the Syrian flag and hoisted America's Stars and Stripes on government buildings during the disturbances that were triggered by a soccer match between an Arab club and a Kurdish team.

Nor would the Syrian authorities show leniency to those who attacked, burned or ransacked government buildings in Qamishli and Hasakah, whose restructure would cost $hundreds of millions, the report said.

Syria's state-run television ran footages Monday night showing dozens of shops completely gutted in Hasakah, Qamishli and neighboring villages, where many buses and cars still lay smashed on the streets, An Nahar reported.

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