DAMASCUS, March 24 (AFP) - 15h32 - Syrian authorities arrested more than 40 Kurds following Kurdish New Year celebrations in the northern city of Aleppo, human rights lawyer Anwar Bunni said Thursday.More than 40 Kurds, seven of them women, were arrested two days ago (Tuesday) after incidents in Aleppo during the celebrations for Newroz, said Bunni, without giving details.

In March 2004, deadly clashes pitted Kurdish protestors against Syrian security forces and Arab tribes in northern Syria, in which the Kurds said 40 people died and the Syrian authorities gave a death toll of 25.

Bunni called for "a neutral investigation into the events in Aleppo and Qamichli," in northeast Syria, the scenes of last year's unrest.

He condemned those "who used force, killed innocent people and beat up demonstrators", and said the only answer to Kurdish grievances was "a political solution based on human rights".

Syria is home to some 1.5 million Kurds, around nine percent of the population. They are fighting to have their language, culture and political rights recognised.

Rights groups estimate some 2,000 political prisoners are being held in Syria, including 200 Kurds.