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The roots of sectarian conflict run deep here, nourished by decades of repressive rule by the Assad family, members of Syria's Alawite minority.

First Minister John Swinney has offered to visit a primary school after it was targeted in a number of sectarian attacks.

Critics have often described the fixture's atmosphere in the past as poisonous or toxic and, while there are undoubtedly continued issues around sectarian singing, it remains Scottish football's biggest spectacle and its most sellable asset.

Fearing sectarian killings, residents fled to the mountains, where they have been sleeping in open areas for a week.

Many of the cases were summary executions and appeared to have been carried out on a sectarian basis, with predominantly Alawite areas targeted in particular, he added.