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Syrian Troops Withdraw From Hama, Storm Other Towns

10.08.2011 16:39

Opposition activists say Syrian troops are expanding their military offensive to crush antigovernment protesters as international pressure grows on President Bashar al-Assad to end the violent crackdown.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops stormed two towns, Taftanaz and Sermin, near the Turkish border on August 10.

The London-based group said explosions and heavy gunfire were also reported in the eastern town of Deir el-Zour, which has been under attack by government forces for four days.

The Associated Press quoted an eyewitness as saying troops had seized control of the town.

However, Syrian tanks and forces did withdraw from the flashpoint protest city of Hama.

The withdrawal was confirmed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who sent his ambassador to Hama to witness the pullout.

Erdogan, speaking in Ankara, said Syria's withdrawal of tanks from the central city of Hama showed that Turkey's diplomatic efforts were effective.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who delivered a stern message from Ankara to Assad on August 9, said that Ambassador Omer Onhon toured the city and met residents and "he was together with people for the noon prayer."

Earlier today, Erdogan, whose country has enjoyed close trade ties with Syria in recent years, urged the Syrian government to take steps toward reform within the next 15 days.

"Turkey's message to Assad is very clear: stop all kinds of violence and bloodshed," he said in Ankara.

Envoys from India, Brazil, and South Africa were due in Damascus today to press similar demands.

Rights groups say more than 1,700 people have been killed since protests against Assad's regime began in March.

compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/syria_protests_crackdown_international_pressure/24292642.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.