Syrian general ‘killed in Damascus’
The Syrian government claims a senior military official has been shot dead by gunmen in the capital city Damascus, as the army continues its bombardment of the restive city of Homs.
According to the official SANA news agency Brigader General Isa al-Kholi, who was director of a military hospital, was killed outside his home.
For an 8th day in a row Syrian army artillery and rockets have rained down on this defiant city, with the international community unable to intervene.
The Syrian President Bashar al Assad seems increasingly determined to quell this 11 month old rebellion. Activists here say that at least 17 people were killed in Homs on Saturday, most of them in the district of Bab Amro.
With the city surrounded and water and electricity cut off, residents say the humanitarian situation is worsening.
Snipers now make it almost impossible to move around. Homs is an unforgiving place, especially for children not old enough to understand the dangers.
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Video footage purports to show a group of opposition free Syrian army soldiers attacking a Syrian army checkpoint in what was a post office. The regime insists it is protecting Homs from “armed gangs” and “terrorists” who have caused much of the destruction.
But it refutes the suggestion the US has released a series of satellite images which it says proves the Syrian military is attacking key cities. Taken 5 days ago they appear to show rocket launchers and artillery pieces toward Homs.
On the outskirts of the capital Damascus artillery pieces have been spotted near Rankus, Halbun and Zabadani, all areas that have reported heavy shelling in the last few days.
But its towards the north, in Syria’s second city and commercial hub where the violence is beginning to escalate. Amateur footage shows security forces shooting at protesters yesterday. This followed twin bombings against a Syrian security building in what was until recently a relatively peaceful city and Assad stronghold.
In London thousand of Syrians mounted an anti-Assad demonstration calling on the international community to come together to stop the killing.
Saudi Arabia is drafting a resolution to be voted on in the UN General Assembly on Monday.
Read more: Protests for Syria as bloodshed continues
It’s thought to suggest the appointment of a UN Special envoy to Syria to help mediate a solution. But even if the resolution is passed it won’t be legally binding and is unlikely to be taken seriously by a regime fighting for its survival.
Fighting has also spilled over the border into Lebanon highlighting fears of regional instability.
Meanwhile, Syria has told Libya and Tunisia to close their embassies in Damascus within 72 hours, a foreign ministry spokesman said, after the two North African countries announced similar measures against Syria.
Libya said on Thursday it had given Syria’s charge d’affaires and his staff in Tripoli three days to leave the country, and last week Tunisia said it had started procedures to expel the Syrian ambassador and withdraw recognition of the Syrian leadership under President Bashar al-Assad.