Monday, April 25, 2011

Syria's crackdown on protesters becomes dramatically more brutal



Tanks and troops enter towns and villages for the first time as scores of people are reportedly killed across Syria

Katherine Marsh in Damascus, Matthew Taylor and Haroon Siddique
guardian.co.uk, Monday 25 April 2011

"The Syrian government's brutal crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations has escalated dramatically, with tanks rolling on to the streets for the first time and troops reported to have opened fire in several towns and villages across the country.

Scores were reportedly killed and many more arrested in a widespread pre-emptive crackdown that was described by one human rights activist as a "savage war" against the pro-democracy movement.

The southern town of Deraa, which has been a centre of the rebellion, bore the brunt of the regime's assault. Witnesses said at least 3,000 troops, backed by tanks and heavy weapons, entered the town in the early hours of Monday.

Soldiers were said to have opened fire at random, with snipers firing from rooftops and men armed with guns and knives conducting house-to-house searches....."

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