19 November 2011 - 20:30

Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the US consulate in west Jerusalem on Saturday in support of the embattled Syrian regime of Bashar Assad.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Palestinian protesters waved Syrian flags and held portraits of Assad, an Agence France-Presse photographer reported.

Israeli police and security guards deployed outside the consulate did not intervene.

"Down with imperialism and the reactionary conspiracy against Syria," one banner read. Another said: "Hands off Syria."

Other signs denounced Qatar and the Arab League, accusing both of joining a common front with the United States against Damascus.

The protest came hours before an Arab League deadline for Damascus to stop its lethal crackdown on a popular revolt and a day after Syrian security forces killed at least 15 civilians.

/106