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Opposition Gunmen Battle Syrian Troops After Tank Assault On Hama

July 31, 2011

Scores of opposition gunmen were reportedly battling Syrian Army troops in Hama after troops stormed the city just before dawn in a bid to crush pro-democracy demonstrations.

Reports say the army was trying to remove barricades that were set up by armed groups at the entrance to Hama.

Syrian authorities have expelled most independent journalists, making it difficult to verify reports of fighting.

A nongovernmental rights group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, quoted hospital officials in Hama as saying at least 45 civilians were killed in the July 31 tank assault.

Later reports suggested the death toll was likely to rise because of the ongoing clashes.

Syrian tanks had besieged the city for nearly a month in response to some of the country's largest demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague called on Assad to stop the deadly assaults on protesters, saying he was "appalled" at the attacks on the eve of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The press attache at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, J.J. Harder, commented on the siege of Hama saying: "It is desperate. The authorities think they can prolong their existence by engaging in full armed warfare on their own citizens."

Rising Death Toll

Meanwhile, another rights group says six civilians were killed overnight when Syrian forces shelled the eastern city of Deir al-Zor.

Opposition activists say that at least five civilians were killed on July 30 when Syrian forces shelled the eastern city of Deir al-Zor.

The group, the Syrian Revolution Coordination Union, said 57 soldiers in Deir al-Zor, including two lieutenants and a captain, had defected to the demonstrators.

It said residents had formed local committees and erected makeshift barriers to try to halt the advance of tanks and armored vehicles inside the city.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 1,888 people have been killed since the protests began, 1,519 of them civilians and 369 members of the security forces.

Despite the escalation of violence, Syrian opposition figures in Algeria have spoken out against any foreign intervention in the country.

compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/tanks_storm_syria_city_hama/24282216.html

Copyright (c) 2011. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.