Tank fire claims 3, wounds dozens in Syrian city
Source: Agencies |
November 6, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TANK fire killed at least three civilians and wounded dozens in the besieged Syrian city of Homs yesterday, activists and residents said, casting doubt on whether an Arab League plan can end months of bloodshed triggered by a popular uprising.
The deaths, on the eve of the main Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha, brought to 80 the number of civilians reported killed in Homs since Tuesday by troops trying to crush protests against President Bashar al-Assad and an emerging armed uprising.
"Whole buildings have been gutted by tank fire. Bread has run out and people who get hit in the streets are dying from their wounds on the spot because no one can reach them," said Samer, a local activist.
The authorities say security forces are fighting militant armed gangs who have been killing civilians and prominent figures in Homs, a city of 1 million, 140 kilometers north of Damascus. State media said this week that several "terrorists" had been killed and arsenals seized, including rocket-propelled grenade launchers, petrol bombs and explosives.
The government says Islamist militants and foreign-backed armed gangs have killed 1,100 members of the security forces since the uprising against 41 years of Assad family rule began in March. The United Nations says more than 3,000 people have been killed in the crackdown.
On Friday state television announced an amnesty to anyone with weapons if they reported to police within a week, "as long as they did not commit any crimes of killing."
The amnesty did not appear to be part of the Arab League plan, accepted by Syria on Wednesday.
The deaths, on the eve of the main Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha, brought to 80 the number of civilians reported killed in Homs since Tuesday by troops trying to crush protests against President Bashar al-Assad and an emerging armed uprising.
"Whole buildings have been gutted by tank fire. Bread has run out and people who get hit in the streets are dying from their wounds on the spot because no one can reach them," said Samer, a local activist.
The authorities say security forces are fighting militant armed gangs who have been killing civilians and prominent figures in Homs, a city of 1 million, 140 kilometers north of Damascus. State media said this week that several "terrorists" had been killed and arsenals seized, including rocket-propelled grenade launchers, petrol bombs and explosives.
The government says Islamist militants and foreign-backed armed gangs have killed 1,100 members of the security forces since the uprising against 41 years of Assad family rule began in March. The United Nations says more than 3,000 people have been killed in the crackdown.
On Friday state television announced an amnesty to anyone with weapons if they reported to police within a week, "as long as they did not commit any crimes of killing."
The amnesty did not appear to be part of the Arab League plan, accepted by Syria on Wednesday.
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