Syrian 'crackdown' simply Murder

Civilians involved in Syria's pro-democracy movement are spending their third day under intense government attack as the Syrian army and navy fire indiscriminately into the town of Latakia. The town has been surrounded for three days despite the lack of an armed civilian presence. At least 29 people have been killed.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The assault began on Sunday when civilians reported that ships belonging to the Syrian Navy had started to fire on the city. They were quickly joined by tanks and vehicles with machine guns. Activists allege the attack is because the town has been a hotspot for pro-democracy demonstrations. Demonstrators have been calling for the resignation of President Hafez al-Assad.
 
Women and children attacked.

In at least one incident, women and children were attacked after being invited to cross safely out of the town, after they came into the open--dashing to safety, Syrian forces opened fire killing one man and wounding several women and children. The indiscriminate violence has the populace terrorized and many cannot decide if it is safer to stay or flee. Many men are staying in the town because they fear the government forces will arrest and persecute them.

The Syrian government has attempted to whitewash the incident claiming the Naval vessels were simply on routine duty to prevent arms smuggling. They added the violence in the town is nothing more than a law enforcement pursuit of mere gunmen who were terrorizing the town. The residents themselves, however, offer a different, bloodier account.
 
At this time, the Syrians appear to be stepping up their actions, not winding down. Within the past 24 hours, several neighboring towns and villages have come under fire, but because of restrictions on reporting within Syria, information is scarce. Rights groups claim that over 17,000 people have been killed since public pro-democracy efforts have begun in Syria.

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