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Kurds say Syrian police kill 3 celebrating New Year

DAMASCUS, March 21, 2008 (AFP) - Syrian police killed three Kurds in clashes which broke out as the Kurds celebrated their New Year at Qameshli near the border with Turkey, an official of the Kurdish Yakiti party told AFP Friday.

"Syrian police opened fire on Thursday evening on some Kurds who were celebrating Kurdish New Year, and singing in the light of candles. They killed three and wounded four," said the official, speaking by telephone and asking that his name not be used.

The official, whose party is banned by the authorities, said that the dead were being buried on Friday in al-Hilalya cemetery, with the ceremony attended by leaders of Syria's Kurdish movement.

Qameshli lies some 680 kilometres (420 miles) north of Damascus.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in London, which named the dead and wounded gave similar details of the clashes but said five people had been wounded.

In the Syrian capital, Abdel Razzaq Taufic, a representative of the Kurdish National Union, said "these incidents have been provoked by some youths to create trouble before the Arab summit", due to be held March 29 and 30 in Damascus.