Syria: Students peacefully protest Jospin's statements

Some 100 Syrian students at the French Cultural Center on Tuesday made a peaceful demonstration before the headquarters of the French embassy in Damascus. They called on French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin to "openly apologize "for the "insult" he made in his backing the Israeli threat to "burn the Lebanese children."

The silent demonstration lasted for less than one hour, during which the demonstrating students sat in front of the embassy's premises carrying candles. Among the Syrian students were several French students who are studying Arabic language in Syria.

A French female student said, "I was shocked over Jospin's statements which are not legal concerning the Lebanese people, and therefore I came to participate in the movement of my Syrian colleagues."

A representative for the demonstrating students handed over the French political advisor for the French ambassador in Damascus, Henry Dragon, a message undersigned by some 1000 students to the French Foreign minister and to the French students. The demonstration ended with no incidents and the students cleaned the remains of the burnt candles on the pavements.