Syrian activists call for immediate ceasefire

Syrian activists are calling for a peace demonstration Saturday in Damascus for an immediate ceasefire to the country's bloody 18-month conflict.

A Facebook group that calls itself Loyalists and Opposition Together for an Immediate Ceasefire, has submitted an application through a third party to the Ministry of Interior asking for a license to hold the peace rally.

The event was originally scheduled for September 15, but may be postponed by one week if the license is not approved today.

“It was impossible to apply for the license before due to the attacks we've faced by the two sides where one side was accusing us of being a part of the conspiracy, while the other was describing us of being Shabiha,” the group wrote on its Facebook page.

“As the concept is now clear, we are able to apply for a license without risking the applicants or the participants lives,” it added.

The group is comprised of a mix of citizens that are both with and against the regime, but who want to see an end to the bloodshed that has left about 20,000 people dead and created 250,000 Syrian refugees since the beginning of the conflict, according to United Nations figures.

The event has garnered the support of several opposition groups inside Syria including the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria, and the Movement for Building the Syrian State.

(Al-Akhbar)