Syrian forces fire on mourners

People marched through the streets of Qamishli in the funeral procession for Mashaal Tammo, one of Syria’s most prominent opposition figures, who was gunned down on Friday by masked gunmen in the city. The slaying was the latest in a string of targeted killings in Syria as the country slides further into disorder, seven months into the uprising against President Bashar Assad.

“All of Qamishli is out today, the funeral is turning into a massive protest,” said Kurdish activist and lawyer Mustafa Osso. The mourners swelling through Qamishli’s streets called on Assad to step down, with chants of “Leave, Leave.” Osso said more than 50,000 people were on Qamishli’s streets to take part in the funeral.

Security forces opened fire during the funeral procession, killing two mourners and wounding several others, he said. The Local Coordination Committees activist network said at least one person was killed and others were injured in the gunfire.

The group said the city has been completely shut down after a general strike was declared to mourn Tammo.