Syrian police impose curfew over Homs as sectarian conflict flares

Syrian police have imposed an overnight curfew in the city of Homs, state media reports, after unrest there is linked to demonstrations that residents say were led by members of the minority Alawite and Shi’ite Muslim religious communities.

Reuters cannot immediately confirm the demands of the demonstrators nor the degree of disturbance that took place.

Some residents say the demonstrations were linked to pressure and violence in recent days aimed at members of the Alawite minority, a sect long seen as loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled by Sunni Islamist rebels on December 8.

The country’s new leaders have repeatedly vowed to protect minority religious groups, who fear that the former rebels now in control could seek to impose a conservative form of Islamist government.

Small demonstrations are also reported in other areas on or near Syria’s coast, where most of the country’s Alawite minority live, including in the city of Tartous.

The demonstrations coincide with an undated video appearing on social networks showing a fire inside an Alawite shrine in the city of Aleppo, with armed men walking around inside and posing near human bodies.

The interior ministry says on its official Telegram account that the video dates back to the rebel offensive on Aleppo in late November and accusing whoever circulated the video anew of seeking to incite sectarian strife.

The ministry also says some members of the former regime attacked interior ministry forces in Syria’s coastal area on Wednesday, leaving a number of dead and wounded.