Syrian security forces have shot dead at least 800 civilians since pro-democracy protests began seven weeks ago, Syrian rights groups Sawasiah claimed today.
The organisation, which was founded by jailed human rights lawyer Mohannad al-Hassani, said it had the names of the 800 civilians killed. Among them were 220 killed in a tank-backed army attack on the city of Deraa.
Syrian army units stormed into the city of Banias with tanks overnight, attacking Sunni districts that had defied President Bashar al-Assad's autocratic rule, a human rights campaigner said today.The units entered the coastal city, a majority of whose residents are Sunni Muslims, from three directions, advancing into Sunni districts but not Alawite neighbourhoods, said the campaigner.
Most communications with Banias have been cut but the campaigner was able to contact some residents, he said.
Mr Assad belongs to the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam, and Alawites occupy most senior positions in the army and security apparatus.
"Residents are reporting the sound of heavy gunfire and seeing Syrian navy boats off the Banias coast. Sunni and mixed neighbourhoods are totally besieged now," said the rights campaigner.
A protest leader said earlier this week that Syrian forces and gunmen loyal to Mr Assad had moved on Tuesday into areas of central Banias that had been under the control of pro-democracy demonstrators for weeks.
The coastal city has witnessed some of the most persistent demonstrations since an uprising erupted in the southern city of Deraa seven weeks ago demanding political freedom and an end to corruption.
Mostly Sunni districts of Banias have been under the control of demonstrators since Assad loyalists, known as "al-shabbiha", fired at residents from speeding cars on April 10th, after a large demonstration that demanded the "overthrow of the regime." Six civilians were killed that day, according to residents and human rights campaigners.
Authorities described Banias as a "centre of Salafist terrorism" and said armed groups had killed soldiers near the city. Civic leaders in Banias issued a statement denying the accusation and saying the authorities were trying to spread fear among the Alawites.
Reuters