5 Dead After Syrian Forces Open Fire on 2 Funerals

Syria edges closer to the brink: Government forces opened fire on thousands of mourners today who turned out for the funeral of a murdered opposition leader, reports Reuters. At least two people were killed. Syrian troops also opened fire on a separate funeral yesterday, killing three. Today's funeral was for the popular Kurd leader Mashaal Tammo, who was shot to death by masked gunman who burst into his home yesterday.

His son blamed the government, and given Tammo's popularity, the killing enflamed fears of civil war, notes Al Jazeera. "This blood is precious to them (Kurds)," said Fares Tammo, from Iraq. "They will not give up until the regime is overthrown and the execution of Bashar al-Assad." (More Syria stories.)