DAMASCUS: A militant suspected of masterminding car bombings in a southern Syrian province that killed a prominent Druze sheikh and at least 25 others was arrested Sunday after the slayings sparked anti-government protests, pro-regime media reported. Syrian state television said the militant, known as Wafi Abu Trabi, confessed to elders in Swaida province of plotting the bombings and subsequent violence against security forces there. The state news agency SANA identified him as a member of the Nusra Front, Syria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate.

Swaida is a predominantly Druze region that largely has stayed out of the civil war raging in Syria since 2011. But the two car bombings there Friday killed anti-government Sheikh Wahid Balous, stirring angry protests by his supporters who accused the government of killing him.

Balous was a vocal critic of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Soon after the bombings, clashes erupted outside police stations and security offices that killed some security agents, local resident and activist Tarek Abdul-Hai said.

The Observatory said the death toll Saturday rose to 37, including six security personnel killed in clashes with rioters. The city had witnessed large rallies in the days before the explosions against the failure of the government to provide basic services.

Some of Balous’ supporters said in a statement they would expel security forces from Swaida province, which until now has largely stayed out of the fighting in Syria’s civil war.

City elders appealed for calm, warning against attempts to drag the province toward violence. Another statement from the city’s Druze leaders urged supporters to be patient as the Balous’ brother, who was seriously wounded in the attack, recovers.

Abdul-Hai, speaking to the Associated Press by telephone from Swaida, said calm has returned to the city as armed militias took charge of patrolling the area. Abdul-Hai said police and security agents have withdrawn from public view to ease tensions. Other civil security agencies returned to their posts, he said.

Abdul-Hai rejected the government claim that Abu Trabi was responsible for the attack as the man, who is a Druze, would never be accepted as a member of a Sunni Al-Qaeda affiliate.

The National Syrian Coalition opposition group in exile also blamed the Syrian government for the killing of Balous, known as “the Dignity Sheikh,” saying it was part of an attempt to stop the anti-government protests in recent days.

In a statement, coalition member Suheir Attasi said killing Balous only “increased the popular anger in the province.”

A 10th-century offshoot of Shiite Islam, the Druze made up about 5 percent of Syria’s prewar population of 23 million people. The Druze are split between supporters and opponents of Assad. Al-Qaeda considers Shiites and any offshoot as heretics.

Abdul-Hai said Abu Trabi was a former member of the local Swaida city council until the first year of the Syrian uprising. He later turned against the government and joined armed rebels under the Free Syrian Army, fighting in neighboring Deraa province, before his unit was disbanded, Abdul-Hai said.

Abdul-Hai said although calm was restored to Swaida, there is still tension ahead of a yet-unscheduled funeral for Balous and his aides.

Abdul-Hai said those in Swaida still can’t access the Internet four days after it first was cut off amid wide ranging anti-government protests.