Syrians Hold Day-Of-Anger Protests Against Russia

Antigovernment protesters in Syria turned their wrath toward Russia by rallying against the Kremlin's support for Syria's government and President Bashar al-Assad in a "day of anger."

Demonstrators in the cities of Homs and Daraa burned Russian flags.

Messages posted on The Syrian Revolution 2011, a Facebook page protesters and activists have used during the months-long demonstrations against Assad, said, "Do not support killers" and, "We express our anger toward Russia and the Russian government."

Russia has blocked efforts of mainly Western countries to impose UN Security Council sanctions on the Syrian government.

The day of anger against Russia comes the same day Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Egyptian media he feared Syria could be slipping into a civil war between majority Sunnis and the minority Alawite Muslim sect.

Assad, his inner circle and most Syrian Army leaders are Alawites.

compiled from agency reports