SYRIAN communists joined protests against hikes in fuel and bread prices in the country’s Kurdish-led north-east on Friday as they called for an end to US occupation.

Crowds gathered in front of the United Nations building in Qamishlo as the Syrian Communist Party called for the defence of the national government and an end to economic misery, which it blamed on “mismanagement” by regional officials.

Speakers also denounced “the Turkish and American occupations” of the region which they said were hindering the stability of Syria as it tries to rebuild after more than a decade of war.