Fresh calls for independent probe in Syria

The French government, human rights groups and the opposition demanded an independent investigation into the killing of Gilles Jacquier while filming a pro-government rally in the restive city of Homs Wednesday.

The opposition called for protests in Jacquier’s honor Thursday, and activists said hundreds of people held demonstrations across the country in cold and rainy weather, demanding the downfall of President Bashar Assad.

“The journalists were attacked in a heavily militarized regime stronghold — it would be hugely difficult for any armed opposition to penetrate the area and launch such a deadly attack,” said Wissam Tarif, a campaigner for online global activist group, Avaaz.

“Yesterday’s case of the killing of the French journalist raises a number of questions, who launched the attacks, what was the purpose. The answer is we don’t know,” he said in an interview in Beirut Thursday. “So at this point, what’s important is again to launch a credible investigation.”

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