A general strike began in several cities in Syria on Sunday, after online activists called on people to join them in defiance of the government's crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, dpa reported.
Videos posted online showed shops closed and streets empty early Sunday in the central province of Homs, the western city of Zabadani and the northern province of Aleppo.
"The strike is like a protest. It starts with ten people then hundreds until tens of thousands join. Start with yourself," stated the Syrian Revolution 2011 Facebook page.
The "Stay at Home" campaign also called on people to "stop supporting the regime by halting work."
Activists used loudspeakers overnight to urge people to join the strike in the town of Khirbet Ghazaleh, in the southern Daraa province.
They also called on people to boycott municipal elections scheduled for Monday.
At least 16 people were killed Saturday in Syria as government forces again cracked down on pro-democracy protesters, while activists condemned rights violations to mark International Human Rights Day.
The United Nations says that at least 4,000 people have been killed in the government crackdown on protests calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad that started in March.
Most independent media and humanitarian groups are barred from entering Syria. A few were allowed into Damascus after a government invitation, but are not allowed to move freely.
Strike begins in several areas in Syria
A general strike began in several cities in Syria on Sunday, after online activists called on people to join them in defiance of the government's crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
