Syrians protest U.S. raid amid heavy security

[unhappycamper]

Syrians protest U.S. raid amid heavy security
By Bassem Mroue - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Oct 31, 2008 6:15:16 EDT

DAMASCUS, Syria — Tens of thousands of crowded a Damascus square in a government-orchestrated rally Thursday to denounce a deadly U.S. raid on Syrian territory near Iraq and send a loud message to America: Leave us alone!

A private Syrian television station also reported the government was reducing the number of soldiers along the Iraqi border, calling it a move to reduce security cooperation with the U.S. in the wake of the attack. It showed footage of troops dismantling positions and leaving the area.

The Syrian government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Syria has threatened to end border security cooperation with the United States and Iraq in reaction to Sunday’s attack. Earlier Thursday, a ranking official challenged Washington to prove that U.S. helicopters targeted a top al-Qaida militant in the raid that Syria says killed eight civilians.

But an Iraqi government official said Syria had sent additional troops to the border region after Sunday’s raid and it was those troops that withdrew Thursday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/ap_syriaprotest_103008/%2e