Rome, 24th December (LaPresse) – Last night in Syria, Uzbek armed men set fire to a Christmas tree in Al-Suqaylabiya, in the governorate of Hama, inhabited by citizens of the Christian religion, and prevented residents from approaching at gunpoint. The event triggered protests by residents, young people organised a sit-in and demonstrations were held in Damascus. This was reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Residents of Al-Suqaylabiya complained about the lack of security, restrictions on religious rituals and attacks on symbols of the Christian religion. In Damascus, in several neighbourhoods, residents demonstrated calling for national unity among all the components of the Syrian people. The demonstrators, reports the London-based NGO, called for an end to the sectarian conflict and urged the military leadership to immediately coordinate with neighbourhood committees to provide the necessary support to address any actions that would fuel the conflict. Participants in the demonstrations stressed the need to preserve the national cohesion uniting all components of the Syrian people, emphasising that Syria is a homeland for all its people without exception.