Hama: “inhuman” Syrian army offensive against the rebels continues
The death toll from crackdown has surpassed 160 deaths. Yesterday three more victims in the clashes between protesters and those loyal to Assad. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expresses frustration and calls upon the Syrian president to resolve the situation "peacefully". For the second day the Security Council fails to agree on Syria.
Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The security force offensive in the Syrian city of Hama continues, where violent clashes between troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and dissidents erupted in recent days. Activists report that yesterday three other people had been killed, in addition to 140 massacred by the army on July 31, the death toll in the city has exceeded the 160. Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says the Syrian President has "lost all sense of humanity," but the Security Council for the second consecutive day failed to reach an agreement on a possible resolution of condemnation against Damascus.
The dead and the harsh violence in Hama and other areas of revolt has sparked international condemnation. Ban Ki-moon expressed anger and frustration over the "numerous statements" issued from the beginning of the crackdown, in which he invited President Assad "with whom I have spoken several times" to resolve the situation "peacefully".
However, even within the United Nations Security Council it is stalemate. For the second consecutive day the 15 member countries did not reach agreement on a possible motion of condemnation of the regime in Damascus, because of the opposition of China and Russia. Internal sources speak of "progress" among the delegates, but there are deep "divisions" on the measures to be implemented.
Meanwhile, demonstrations of dissent against the regime are still taking place, despite the army's offensives. On the night of August 2 there were demonstrations in Homs and several surrounding villages, similar scenes were also recorded in coastal cities of Latakia and Baniyas. But the attention is focused on Hama, where for several days the military loyal to the regime has been leading a violent crackdown, which yesterday alone led to three more deaths.
Hama, a city of 800 thousand inhabitants in central Syria, is one of the bastions of anti-regime revolt and plays a special role in the country's recent history. In 1982 then-President Hafez al-Assad, Bashar's father, sent the army to quell a Sunni opposition revolt, led by the Muslim Brotherhood. The crackdown caused tens of thousands of deaths and destroyed the city.
Human rights activists report that since the beginning of the Arab Spring revolt in Syria in March, at least 1,992 people have been killed, including 1,618 civilians and 374 members of the military or security forces. However, it is impossible to confirm the numbers for the lack of independent sources in the country, where there is a strict censorship.
The dead and the harsh violence in Hama and other areas of revolt has sparked international condemnation. Ban Ki-moon expressed anger and frustration over the "numerous statements" issued from the beginning of the crackdown, in which he invited President Assad "with whom I have spoken several times" to resolve the situation "peacefully".
However, even within the United Nations Security Council it is stalemate. For the second consecutive day the 15 member countries did not reach agreement on a possible motion of condemnation of the regime in Damascus, because of the opposition of China and Russia. Internal sources speak of "progress" among the delegates, but there are deep "divisions" on the measures to be implemented.
Meanwhile, demonstrations of dissent against the regime are still taking place, despite the army's offensives. On the night of August 2 there were demonstrations in Homs and several surrounding villages, similar scenes were also recorded in coastal cities of Latakia and Baniyas. But the attention is focused on Hama, where for several days the military loyal to the regime has been leading a violent crackdown, which yesterday alone led to three more deaths.
Hama, a city of 800 thousand inhabitants in central Syria, is one of the bastions of anti-regime revolt and plays a special role in the country's recent history. In 1982 then-President Hafez al-Assad, Bashar's father, sent the army to quell a Sunni opposition revolt, led by the Muslim Brotherhood. The crackdown caused tens of thousands of deaths and destroyed the city.
Human rights activists report that since the beginning of the Arab Spring revolt in Syria in March, at least 1,992 people have been killed, including 1,618 civilians and 374 members of the military or security forces. However, it is impossible to confirm the numbers for the lack of independent sources in the country, where there is a strict censorship.
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