Damascus merchants strike over Houla killings
Sunni Muslim businesses closed in Old Damascus on Monday in the biggest act of civil disobedience by the capital’s merchant class, a backbone of support for President Bashar al-Assad during Syria’s 14-month revolt, activists said.
The show of defiance was in protest against the massacre of at least 108 civilians in the town of Houla in central Syria, and follows strikes elsewhere over the previous two days, they said.
“More than 80 percent of shops have closed in some areas. The army and police are going around the old city with microphones shouting orders for merchants to re-open their shops,” an activist called Nader said by phone from the area.
Sunni merchants from established commercial families have traditionally formed the core of the business community in the Syrian capital and in the commercial hub Aleppo.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/28/us-syria-unrest-strike-idUSBRE84R0MN20120528
