Syrian official denies protest casualties and arrest of journalist
- 12 years ago
Reem Haddad, a spokesperson for the Syrian information ministry, in a phone interview with Al Jazeera over the rolling nationwide protests.
She denied knowledge of the deaths reported during on Friday, as thousands of protesters took to the streets across Syria to protest against the government, in what they dubbed a "day of defiance".
She said the UN delegation which will be visiting Syria to investigate allegations would be a positive thing for the government.
"The Syrian government is not worried, because there is nothing wrong," the spokesperson said.
"Syria is a mosaic, it is made of many different sects living together, in harmony."
She denied any knowledge of the arrest of Riad Seif, a member of parliament and leading opposition activist.
Haddad said that she knew nothing about the detention of Al Jazeera journalist, Dorothy Parvaz.
"I have no idea whether Dorothy Parvaz is being held in Syria," she said, refusing to comment on the confirmation Al Jazeera received earlier this week from Syrian officials, who informed the news organisation that the journalist had been arrested.
She denied knowledge of the deaths reported during on Friday, as thousands of protesters took to the streets across Syria to protest against the government, in what they dubbed a "day of defiance".
She said the UN delegation which will be visiting Syria to investigate allegations would be a positive thing for the government.
"The Syrian government is not worried, because there is nothing wrong," the spokesperson said.
"Syria is a mosaic, it is made of many different sects living together, in harmony."
She denied any knowledge of the arrest of Riad Seif, a member of parliament and leading opposition activist.
Haddad said that she knew nothing about the detention of Al Jazeera journalist, Dorothy Parvaz.
"I have no idea whether Dorothy Parvaz is being held in Syria," she said, refusing to comment on the confirmation Al Jazeera received earlier this week from Syrian officials, who informed the news organisation that the journalist had been arrested.