Kurds seek autonomy in a democratic Syria
August 16, 2012 by sks
Filed under News, Syria, Syrian Revolution
As the fighting in Damascus and Aleppo intensifies, Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad’s security forces have relinquished control of several Kurdish towns in order to concentrate on battling the rebels elsewhere.
Kurdish leaders claim they now control about 50% of the territory there, and warn they will take up arms against the regime if it tries to return. They say they want autonomy in a democratic Syria.
With a combined total of about 30 million, Kurds are one of the world’s largest stateless people. In Syria, they make up just under 10% of the population.
Orla Guerin reports.
Undercover in Syria’s Kurdish regionKurdish leaders say they now control about 50% of the territory there, and warn they will fight the regime if it tries to retake power.
The fate of this area has implications beyond Syria. Iraq, Iran and Turkey have their own Kurdish populations. With a combined total of about 30 million, they are the world’s largest stateless people.
Our Correspondent Orla Guerin has spent 5 days under cover in Syria’s Kurdish region and sent this report.
