Latakia Locked Down After Bloody Clashes

Syria's Latakia city is under lockdown. The government ordered a curfew. It started at 5 PM on Tuesday. It will end at 6 AM on Wednesday. This happened after violent protests. Four people died. Many others got hurt. The protests were about power. The Alawite minority wants more control. They gathered in Azhari Square. They demanded a different political system. They also wanted prisoners freed. But things got out of hand.This isn't the first time. In November, a similar protest happened. It was short-lived. A rival protest showed up. Both sides clashed. Security forces had to step in. They used gunfire to break it up. Syria has been unstable. Last year, the leader changed. Bashar al-Assad was ousted. A Sunni-led government took over. Since then, tensions have been high. Sectarian violence has flared up. The government is cracking down. Security forces are everywhere. They're patrolling the streets. They're keeping an eye on things. But will it help? Or will it make things worse?