Syria regime calls for ‘million man’ Friday prayers

Published January 24th, 2013 - 11:18 GMT
Pro-regime supporters rally in Damascus in 2011.
Pro-regime supporters rally in Damascus in 2011.

The Syrian government has called for “million man prayers” on Friday in an appeal to end violence that has ravaged the country for 22 months.

The state news agency reported Minister of Religious Endowments Mohammed Abdel Settar as saying the move was an “appeal for a return to security and safety in the homeland."

The anti-regime uprising is approaching its second anniversary on March 15. What started as largely peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad has transformed into an all-out battle for military control of the country. More than 60,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting according to the United Nations.

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