Syrian forces kill 40, protesters urge protection
AMMAN: Syrian forces shot dead at least 40 civilians on Friday when they fired on demonstrators demanding international protection from President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on pro-democracy protests, activists and residents said.
Tens of protesters were also wounded and hundreds arrested in one of the bloodiest days in seven months of protests demanding and end to 41 years of Assad family rule, prompting Arab ministers to send Assad their strongest message yet calling for an end to civilian killings.
The Arab League's committee on the Syrian crisis said on Friday it had sent an "urgent message ... to the Syrian government expressing its severe discontent for the continued killing of Syrian civilians".
The committee said in a statement it had "expressed the hope that the Syrian government would take action to protect civilians".
Arab ministers are due to meet Syrian officials on Sunday in the Qatari capital of Doha.
Most of Friay's killings occurred in the central cities of Hama, where Assad sent tanks and troops to crush large demonstrations three months ago, and Homs, a centre of protests and an increasingly armed opposition to his autocratic rule.
"A no-fly zone is a legitimate demand for Homs," read banners carried by protesters in the Khalidiya neighbourhood.
NATO warplanes played a central role in the overthrow of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, but the Western alliance has shown no appetite to intervene in Syria to halt violence which the United Nations says has killed 3,000 people.
Syria's opposition National Council has called for international protection. It has not explicitly requested military intervention, although street protesters have increasingly voiced that demand.
Tens of protesters were also wounded and hundreds arrested in one of the bloodiest days in seven months of protests demanding and end to 41 years of Assad family rule, prompting Arab ministers to send Assad their strongest message yet calling for an end to civilian killings.
The Arab League's committee on the Syrian crisis said on Friday it had sent an "urgent message ... to the Syrian government expressing its severe discontent for the continued killing of Syrian civilians".
The committee said in a statement it had "expressed the hope that the Syrian government would take action to protect civilians".
Arab ministers are due to meet Syrian officials on Sunday in the Qatari capital of Doha.
Most of Friay's killings occurred in the central cities of Hama, where Assad sent tanks and troops to crush large demonstrations three months ago, and Homs, a centre of protests and an increasingly armed opposition to his autocratic rule.
"A no-fly zone is a legitimate demand for Homs," read banners carried by protesters in the Khalidiya neighbourhood.
NATO warplanes played a central role in the overthrow of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, but the Western alliance has shown no appetite to intervene in Syria to halt violence which the United Nations says has killed 3,000 people.
Syria's opposition National Council has called for international protection. It has not explicitly requested military intervention, although street protesters have increasingly voiced that demand.
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