Syrian forces kill hundreds in renewed wave of violence

Malaysia Sun Saturday 4th February, 2012

In the worst violence of the near year-long crackdown by government forces, Syrian security forces have launched a massive attack on the people of Homs.

Using heavy artillery, the Syrian forces pounded the civilian population with shells and mortars. Initial reports from opposition groups in the country say 217 people have been killed, and hundreds more wounded.

With many activists claiming a massacre has taken place, government officials say it is all "propaganda." The Internet however is ablaze with footage of heavy bombardment, and bodies being pulled from the rubble of buildings hit by the bombardment.

The attack comes on the eve of a vote in the United Nations Security Council which will call for a cessation of the violence. Russia however has been successful in getting the proposed resolution watered down.

An Arab League Observer Mission report which confirmed government claims that armed thugs were operating in gangs in the country has received little to no exposure. Russia wants the UN resolution extended to condemn these groups.

Russia has also rejected calls for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stand aside, or delegate some of his powers to the vice president, a measure proposed by the Arab League.

Many of those killed in this latest outburst of violence were women and children, opposition officials say.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday his country was unhappy with the situation in Syria like everybody else, but the resolution the Security Council was considering was not balanced.

Russia has put forward further amendments which council members are currently considering, he said. A vote was expected to be taken on Saturday however this was looking increasingly unlikely as Lavrov said if a vote was taken without the amendments it would be a "scandal."

Nearly 6,000 people have been killed during the eleven months of protests in Syria, the majority of them civilians. The death toll for the past week alone now exceeds three hundred.