DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Syrian authorities have detained an activist for his role in a pro-democracy group and participation in one of its meetings last month, a human rights group said Friday .
The detention was the latest in the crackdown against the so-called «Damascus Declaration» group. U.S. President George W. Bush recently criticized Syria's actions and called for the release of the activists .
Marwan al-Ish, a geologist in his late 40s who is a member of the group, was detained while at work on Tuesday, the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria said .
The «Damascus Declaration» was formed in 2005 by five small opposition groups and six political figures. The signatories of the declaration said they want to build internal support for peaceful democratic change in Syria .
Authorities have detained several members of the group after it held a meeting on Dec. 1 that brought together opposition groups and activists calling for democratic reform. Al-Ish's arrest raised the number of those currently in detention to 10, the rights group said .
Syrian officials, who usually do not comment on domestic security matters, have not commented on the recent arrests .
During a brief period after taking office in 2000, President Bashar Assad released hundreds of political prisoners _ a move seen at the time as an opening up of Syrian society. But he has subsequently clamped down on pro-democracy activists, showing there are limits to the dissent he is willing to tolerate.
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