U.N. Security Council to discuss Syria amid reports of clashes
(CNN) -- The United Nations Security Council was scheduled to discuss Syria Monday amid reports of clashes between the military and civilians in the Middle Eastern nation.
At least five people were killed in violence nationwide Monday, a human rights organization said.
In the city of Hama, the Syrian military opened fire and at least three people were killed, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria (LCC), an affiliation of groups that report on protests in the nation. At least two people died in clashes in other cities, the LCC said.
A spokesman for Germany＇s mission to the United Nations told CNN a briefing on Syria will occur at 5 p.m. ET Monday.
Human rights groups described the violence as repression by President Bashar al-Assad＇s regime, but the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said security forces were responding to "armed groups" in Hama and other cities.
Heavy artillery and gunfire in Hama lasted about 20 minutes before slowing, said Omar al-Habbal of the LCC. Another activist reported hearing sporadic gunfire before the weapons fell silent. The fresh violence in Hama came a day after tanks advanced a short distance into the city, then moved to its outskirts.
On Sunday, clashes left at least 71 people dead across the country, with at least 50 killed in Hama, according to the LCC.
Other human rights organizations offered different assessments of the situation.
A doctor in Hama said that more than 100 people were killed in the city and its surrounding areas.
"I feel terrible. I am exhausted, psychologically exhausted, the pain. I can＇t imagine a brother is killing his brother. And what for? For the president? It＇s terrible here. We see a lot of this blood and things -- 115 dead -- it＇s too much for one day," he said.
The hospitals in Hama have been struggling to deal with the volume of the wounded. People are being treated in the hallways and the morgues are overflowing, he said.
He claimed that Syrian security forces were deliberately targeting those trying to help the wounded, saying that at one hospital an employee who serves tea and coffee ran out to help and was shot.
Many doctors were initially unable to reach the hospitals because of the military incursion and snipers on rooftops, the doctor said. Tanks surrounded at least one of the hospitals on Sunday, but later withdrew.
Hospital conditions are disastrous, said optometrist Abu Abdullah, who spoke to CNN Monday. He said the dead are being buried in gardens, public parks and backyards, because cemeteries can＇t be reached.
CNN was unable to independently confirm the death tolls.
Al-Assad said Monday that the government was responding to a "vicious attack."
"This vicious attack won＇t fare any better than the previous ones... all of Syria＇s honest people are confident that we will emerge from the crisis more powerful, more present and more effective regionally and internationally," he said in a speech to the military, SANA reported Monday.
Three members of security forces were killed in clashes in Hama and three members of the military were killed in Deir Ezzour, SANA reported.
The government-run agency said "armed terrorist groups" had taken to the streets in Deir Ezzour, attacking police headquarters and stealing weapons.
The LCC reported at least 11 people were killed in Deir Ezzour Sunday, and at least one person was killed there Monday.
The Hama raid marks the latest violence as anti-government protesters in the nation have called for a new regime since mid-March. Activists blame the deaths of civilians in demonstrations on security forces, but the government has consistently attributed the violence to "armed groups."
President Bashar al-Assad has drawn criticism at home and abroad for his tough crackdown on the protesters calling for his ouster.
The European Union Monday announced an assets freeze and travel ban on five Syrian individuals "involved in or associated with the violent repression," but did not specify who was the target of the new restrictive measures.
"Mass arrests, violence and the killing of civilians have continued and even escalated, as witnessed during the attacks on Hama and other Syrian cities during the weekend, which reportedly left more than 100 civilians dead," European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement. "This shows that the Syrian leadership is unwilling to implement the reforms it has promised in response to the legitimate requests of the Syrian people."
On Monday, Turkey expressed growing dissatisfaction with its neighbor. Violence in Syria has prompted thousands to flee to Turkey, according to the United Nations.
"We were greatly frustrated and disappointed about the operation in Syria yesterday, especially in Hama," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said. "The timing and the way these operations are conducted are all wrong. We strongly condemn these operations."
A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday the United Nations chief was "deeply concerned" about reports of hundreds of protesters killed and injured.
"He strongly condemns the use of force against the civilian population and calls on the government of Syria to halt this violent offensive at once," the spokesman said in a statement, referring to Ban.
U.S. President Barack Obama said he was "appalled" and pledged that U.S. officials will increase pressure on the Syrian regime, "isolate the Assad government and stand with the Syrian people."
"The reports out of Hama are horrifying and demonstrate the true character of the Syrian regime," Obama said in a statement.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague also condemned the reported attacks, and said military intervention in Syria is "not a remote possibility."
Last month, Human Rights Watch said government forces targeted the city.
"Hama is the latest city to fall victim to President Bashar al-Assad＇s security forces despite his promises that his government would tolerate peaceful protests," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Security forces have responded to protests with the brutality that＇s become familiar over the past several months."
The humanitarian watchdog said in July that the forces raided homes, opened fire and set up checkpoints in and around the restive city, the site of a deadly military clampdown nearly 30 years ago.
The doctor who spoke to CNN expressed his fears that the Syrian government was trying to provoke people into carrying weapons, fearing that, should this in fact be realized, it would create chaos far beyond Syria＇s borders. He and other activists are pleading with the international community to take a tougher stance.
"We don＇t need the U.N. or NATO to come and make a war like Libya, to make Syria free," he said. "We just want a statement, a statement of support for the opposition to force the Arab countries to speak out, at least to comment. They are saying nothing. And for the U.N. to make a decision to say that Assad is illegal and to bring him to an international court." |
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