Syrians protest on fifth anniversary of civil war
Syrians take to the streets on the fifth anniversary since the start of the civil war, and demand Syrian President Bashar al-Assad step down. Natasha Howitt reports.
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THIS EDIT CONTAINS USER GENERATED CONTENT THAT WAS UPLOADED TO A SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED BY REUTERS' SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM AND REVIEWED BY A SENIOR EDITOR. REUTERS IS CONFIDENT THE EVENTS PORTRAYED ARE GENUINE. This video posted online purports to show Syrians rallying to mark five years since the start of the country's civil war. They are calling for President Bashar al-Assad to step down. "This oppressor has killed children and burnt houses", they sing, "I won't leave this revolution even if I am going to die." Five years ago, protests against Assad's rule descended into a multi-sided war, drawing in foreign governments and allowing the growth of Islamic State. 250,00 people have been killed, and half of the country's population displaced. This has resulted in Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War Two. Peace talks are currently taking place in Geneva, but hopes of a breakthrough still remain slim.