No Break in Syrian Violence as UN Chief Calls for International Action
Published at
LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images(DAMASCUS, Syria) — Threats by the Western world, the Arab world and the international community at large have failed to stop the ongoing violence in Syria.
Even after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told ABC’s Barbara Walters in a recent interview that only a “crazy person” would kill his own people, dozens of Syrians are dying daily as the government keeps cracking down on pro-democracy activists.
On Wednesday, 33 deaths were reported throughout the country by the opposition group Local Coordination Committees of Syria. At least three women and a child were among the fatalities.
Most of the deaths are occurring in the cities of Homs and Hama, both hotbeds for the rising anti-government movement led by the Free Syrian Army, whose many members are former soldiers of al-Assad’s army.
Since the revolt for democracy began nine months ago, the United Nations estimates that as many as 5,000 people have died. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is stepping up his call for international action, although there remains a reluctance to get involved militarily as the U.S. and NATO did in Libya by establishing a no-fly zone last March.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio