LONDON (AP) — A dozen people opposed to the Syrian government staged a small demonstration Saturday to protest the presence at the Olympics of a Syrian equestrian rider whose father is under U.S. sanctions for supporting President Bashar Assad.

Ahmad Saber Hamsho told The Times of London in June that the Assad regime was "only protecting people from guys with weapons." Rebels have fought the regime for 17 months in an uprising that has claimed 19,000 lives and become a civil war.

Hamsho competed in the show jumping individual qualifier event, producing a clear round in good time on a horse called Wonderboy. Protesters outside the gate at Greenwich Park handed out leaflets and "Freedom for Syria" stickers.

Hamsho said he did not want to talk about Syrian politics. He said he was representing the country, not anyone in particular, in the equestrian ring. He dismissed the protesters as "totally stupid."

"They should be proud of us athletes who are representing Syria," Hamsho said after his ride. "I represent no one. I represent only Syria."

On Saturday, explosions shook the outskirts of the Syrian capital and helicopters circled as rebels appeared to renew their offensive in the city. Iranian state TV reported that gunmen kidnapped 48 Iranian pilgrims from a Damascus suburb.

The United States last year placed Hamsho's father, Muhammad Hamsho, and his company, Hamsho International Group, under sanctions for supporting the Assad regime.

The elder Hamsho is part of a circle within the government that has controlled the Syrian economy for decades. The sanctions are aimed at breaking the monopoly and isolating Assad.

The elder Hamsho is also under a European Union travel ban for his support of Assad.

The 19-year-old Hamsho, the youngest competitor among equestrians at the London Games, said the Syrian conflict weighed on him but said he was able to concentrate in the ring.

"For sure I feel bad. It's my country," he said. But he said his clean round "gives us and all Syrians positive energy." If anything, he said, the conflict "made it easier for me because I had more will to do better."

He said he was sad that his father could not watch him compete because of the travel ban.

"My father gave me all the support to concentrate and do my best here, and he said, 'Go there and ride for your country and only your country,'" he said.

The Hamsho holding company has subsidiaries ranging from construction, civil engineering, telecommunications and hotels to carpet sales, ice cream production and horse trading.

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