More killed as tanks storm Syrian town
First postedUpdated
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At least 60 people have been killed in Syria as the military crackdown spreads to a new city in the country's east.
Most of the casualties came as regime troops launched an attack on the city of Deir al Zour, not far from the Iraqi border and in an area with a history of tension with the government.
International leaders, including the Pope, have condemned the killings and flagged new measures to punish the Syrian regime.
But it has provoked an equally defiant response from the Syrian president.
Deir al Zour, 400 kilometres north-east of Damascus, is the latest in a long line of cities and towns targeted by Syrian forces which are determined to crush the long-running uprising that began in March.
Residents watched as a convoy of tanks and bulldozers stormed into the city's north and western entrances in the early hours of morning.
They had even tried to block their route with barricades in anticipation of a military assault.
But the tanks simply pushed them aside before taking up positions in key areas of the city.
"Shells are now hitting Al-Joura district," one resident in Deir al Zour said.
"No one dares go out in the street near the main square."
Deir al Zour, like many other targeted towns, has a majority Sunni Muslim population and a history of tension with Syria's minority Alawite regime, led by president Bashar al-Assad.
A long-running water shortage has added to the region's woes and soured relations with the government by devastating local agriculture and eventually forcing hundreds of thousands out of the area.
In recent months, along with the city of Hama, Deir al Zour has staged some of the biggest demonstrations against the Assad regime.
Lately as many as 400,000 people have taken to the streets at regular Friday protests.
The latest military operation has intensified international condemnation of Syria's brutal repression of dissent.
The United Nations secretary-general telephoned the Syrian president on Saturday, imploring him to rein in the army and stop the violence against civilians.
Similar calls have come from the Arab League and the Pope and neighbouring Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had some tough words for the Syrian president.
"Our patience is running out," he said.
"Therefore I am sending the Turkish foreign minister to Syria to hold all necessary talks there.
"Our messages will be conveyed to them clearly during this visit and the upcoming process and the steps that will be taken will be shaped according to their response."
But Mr Assad had an equally strong message for Syria's critics, defending the need for the continuing military assault.
"Syria is on the path to reforms," he told Syrian state television.
"Dealing with outlaws who cut off roads, seal towns and terrorise residents is a duty of the state which must defend security and protect the lives of civilians."
The United States ambassador in Syria, Robert Ford, has described the latest violence as grotesque.
Last month Mr Ford infuriated the Syrian regime by visiting protesters in Hama to show his solidarity.
He has vowed to continue travelling to other targeted towns to monitor the crackdown.
It sets the US up for another confrontation with Syria.
But he says it is important to bear witness to what the Syrian regime is up to as state television reports "all kinds of lies".
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telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8687177/Tottenham-riot-live.html
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