Syrian Australians march in Sydney against foreigner terrorists’ violence in homeland

Hundreds of Syrian Australians have marched through the streets of Sydney to demand an end to almost three years of violence in their homeland, Press TV reports.

They also called for an end to the arming of foreign-backed militants fighting against the Syrian government.

The demonstrators also condemned the recent Israeli airstrike on a research center near the Syrian capital, Damascus, describing it an act of aggression against a sovereign state.

Since the beginning of unrest in Syria, Syrians living in Australia have held several demonstrations in support of President Bashar al-Assad. The rallies are organized by a group called “Hands off Syria.”

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.

In a key speech on January 6, Assad called for an end to the terrorist operations inside Syria and urged “concerned states and parties” to stop funding, arming and harboring militants.

He added that his government is always ready to hold talks with the opposition and would call for a “comprehensive national dialog” after foreign parties end their support for the militants and the terrorist activities cease in the country.