Syria’s new Islamist-led authorities said the footage was “old” and that “unknown groups” were behind the attack, saying “republishing” the video served to “stir up strife”, a day after hundreds protested in Damascus against the torching of a Christmas tree.

Angry protests broke out Wednesday in Syria over a video showing an attack on an Alawite shrine, with a war monitor saying one demonstrator was killed in Homs city. In the central city of Homs, where protesters took to the streets earlier over the shrine attack video,