Syrian unrest: 'Many deaths' as army attacks Hama

[Gerald]

Syrian tanks have stormed the northern city of Hama, killing at least 45 civilians, a leading rights group says.

Residents reported heavy shelling and warned that hospitals were overflowing with the dead and wounded.

The government said that "armed groups" had burnt police stations and vandalised property. Gunmen had killed two Syrian soldiers, it added.

US officials have described the events as "full-on warfare" by the Syrian government against its own people.

The assault was a last act of utter desperation by the Syrian government, JJ Harder, press attache at the American embassy in the capital, Damascus, told the BBC.

With this latest military operation, the authorities are sending a clear message that they will not tolerate large-scale unrest ahead of the month of Ramadan, when protests are expected to grow, says the BBC's Lina Sinjab in Damascus.

But our correspondent says the people of Hama remain defiant, with some still out in streets shouting: "We will not be killed again," a reference to the 1982 massacre which left tens of thousands dead after President Bashar al-Assad's father, Hafez, sent in troops to quell an Islamist uprising there.

The recent protests - calling for widespread democratic reforms and political freedoms - show no sign of letting up despite a government crackdown that has brought international condemnation and sanctions.

Activists say more than 1,500 civilians and 350 security personnel have been killed across Syria since protests began in mid-March.

Centre of protests

Hama has been in a state of revolt and virtually besieged for the past month. According to activists on the ground, troops and tanks began their multi-pronged assault at dawn, smashing through hundreds of barricades erected by locals to reach the centre of Hama.

"[Tanks] are firing their heavy machineguns randomly and overrunning makeshift road blocks," a doctor in Hama told Reuters by phone, with machinegun fire in the background.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said medics had confirmed 45 deaths. But the toll could be as high as 100, a London-based spokesman for the group told the BBC.

Some residents said they saw bodies lying in the streets and that electricity and water supplies had been cut.

Security forces snipers were reported to have taken up positions on high buildings, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut in neighbouring Lebanon.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-14356722


Note: 31 July 2011 Last updated at 11:50 GMT

[Platapus]

Gosh, I guess there is no alternative but for the United States to don their white hats and commit to yet another war in the Middle East. Not!

[NeonSamurai]

They won't... no oil there. This is why we are involved in Iraq and Libya, but not all the other places where this sort of crap goes on all the time.

[HunterICX]

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

They won't... no oil there. This is why we are involved in Iraq and Libya, but not all the other places where this sort of crap goes on all the time.

Aye...and the UN dare to say that they fight for democracy

got to love our agenda of priorities&morale....
for greed we throw that out of the window.

HunterICX

[Gerald]

UN .. in many cases have lost their credibility, and not acted in force, when this really has been needed.

[BossMark]

No oil no war

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by BossMark

No oil no war

Not always, you can see it in a historical perspective, and see that there are other reasons,also

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

They won't... no oil there. This is why we are involved in Iraq and Libya, but not all the other places where this sort of crap goes on all the time.

My thoughts exactly....otherwise it is just one hell of a coincidence...again!

Aye...and the UN dare to say that they fight for democracy

Do they?

[Gerald]

Amateur footage of what is believed to be the city of Hama as Syrian forces attack.

Syrian security forces have cracked down on anti-government protests across the country, killing 100 people in the city of Hama alone, reports say.

Witnesses said tanks moved into Hama at dawn, shelling civilians. Other towns also erupted in violence in one of the bloodiest days since protests began.

The government said troops had been sent in to Hama to remove barricades erected by the protesters.

US officials accused the government of waging "full-on warfare" on its people.

The assault was a last act of utter desperation by the Syrian government, said JJ Harder, a US embassy spokesman in the capital, Damascus.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-14356722


Note: Update Record,31 July 2011 Last updated at 16:02 GMT

[Gerald]

Syrian security forces have renewed attacks on the city of Hama on the second day of a crackdown on anti-government protesters, activists and witnesses say.

Tanks opened fire after a night of sporadic shooting, Hama-based activist Omar Hamawi told AP news agency.

One unconfirmed report said four people died in a north-eastern district.

Security forces killed scores of people in the city on Sunday. Activists say about 130 died across the country.

The BBC's Jim Muir, in Beirut, say Hama still seems to be largely under the control of its own inhabitants rather than the government.

Tanks and troops which had tried to take control of the city on Sunday, withdrew to the outskirts overnight but now seem to be pushing ahead again, he adds.

Intense shooting also broke out in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour overnight, Rami Abdul-Rahman, the head of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said.

Government attempts to crush continuing protests across Syria has brought strong international condemnation.

Russia, in its strongest criticism yet of President Bashar al-Assad, called for an end to "repressions".

"The use of force against both peaceful civilians and representatives of state structures is unacceptable and should be stopped immediately," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Earlier, US President Barack Obama said he was "appalled" by the Syrian government's use of brutality.

Germany and Italy have called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation. Germany is currently a member of the council.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14363559


Note: Update Record, 1 August 2011 Last updated at 11:19 GMT

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

My thoughts exactly....otherwise it is just one hell of a coincidence...again!

Looking at the latest Sky News 22:00 GMT and things seem to be escalating at an astonishing pace (the beginning of Ramadan)....possibly hundreds are now dead

[Gerald]

Syrian forces are pushing towards the centre of the town of Hama as they continue an offensive in which scores of people have died.

Residents told the BBC many people were fleeing to nearby villages, believing the army would gain full control.

On Monday, security forces cracked down on protests in towns around Syria, often after prayers on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The UN Security Council is set to resume discussions on the crisis.

Russia has until now resisted agreeing to a resolution condemning the violence, but has indicated that it could back a lesser statement.

Syrian Defence Minister Ali Habib was among five members of President Bashar al-Assad's government targeted by European Union asset freezes and travel bans, the EU said on Tuesday.

And Italy has recalled its ambassador to Syria for consultations, citing the "horrible repression" of citizens.

Rights groups say around 140 people have been killed by the authorities since Sunday, most of them in Hama.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14367773

Note: Update Record, 2 August 2011 Last updated at 09:34 GMT

[Gerald]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14367773

Note: Update Record,2 August 2011 Last updated at 23:10 GMT

[Gerald]

Hama resident Osamah: "They're shooting anything that moves"

Government tanks in Syria have reportedly advanced deep into the besieged central city of Hama to put down opposition protests.

Residents who spoke to Reuters said tanks had reached Orontes Square in the city centre, focus of mass rallies against President Bashar al-Assad.

The reported advance followed a new bombardment of the city of 800,000.

The UN Security Council is split over how to respond to the bloodshed, which the UN secretary general has condemned.

Human rights groups say at least 140 people have been killed in the Syrian unrest since Sunday, mainly in Hama, adding to a civilian death toll believed to be more than 1,600 since March.

Protesters were inspired by the successful uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Mr Assad has promised reforms, but blames the violence on "armed criminal gangs" backed by unspecified foreign powers.

Access to events in Syria has been severely restricted for international journalists and it is rarely possible to verify accounts by witnesses and opposition activists.
'Finishing us off'

The Reuters news agency quoted residents of Hama as saying tanks had re-entered the city on Wednesday morning, reaching Orontes Square.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14385981


Note: Update Record, 3 August 2011 Last updated at 12:01 GMT