Protesters in Ottawa joined the Global Day of Rage for Syria Saturday, rallying at Parliament Hill and the Syrian Embassy in hopes of Canadian intervention in the violence-stricken country.
Demonstrators said they want Canada's government to get behind a no-fly zone over Syria and support the Free Syrian Army and Syria National Council who are opposing President Bashar al-Assad.
"We want (Stephen) Harper right now to act, to take the initiative to push for protecting the life of thousands," said Abdullah el-Haj.
"(We are) more than angry, Bashar is killing the people," said Mohamed Menla.
They said the number of dead, imprisoned and injured is growing every day as al-Assad's regime tries to crack down on an uprising.
"They're going through hell over there," said Yaman Elsham. "I have two of my cousins over there who were arrested, one was released and one is still under custody right now."
"The youngest detainee got killed a few days ago, here name is Asaf and she was four months old," said el-Haj. "They were torturing her to get information from her parents and then they killed her, she died under torture."
This protest started at the Syrian Embassy in downtown Ottawa, where protesters said the ambassador doesn't represent them anymore.
"We need someone who represents the people," said Elsham.
"We want Harper to act," said el-Haj. "Statements are not enough."
The protests come on the same day the Syrian National Council formally asked the Arab League to refer the crisis to the United Nations Security Council.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Karen Soloman
