22 Killed as Ban Urges Syria to Cooperate with Arab Monitors

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At least 22 people were killed on Wednesday in clashes in the southern Syrian province of Daraa, where the protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime erupted in March, a rights group said, as U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon expressed concern about the mounting death toll.

"Twenty-two people -- six deserters, a civilian and 15 members of the armed forces and security forces -- were killed and several dozen civilians were wounded in their homes," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

It said several of the civilians had been seriously wounded "during clashes in which both light and heavy machineguns were used in the town of Dael" in Daraa province.

The Britain-based rights group also said that "security forces attacked the Omari mosque in Dael."

Earlier, the main opposition grouping the Syrian National Council appealed for an "emergency meeting for the Arab League to condemn the bloody massacres ... and cooperate with the United Nations in taking the necessary measures to protect Syrian civilians."

The SNC put the toll over the past 48 hours at 250 dead.

"The secretary general (Ban Ki-moon) remains extremely concerned about the escalating crisis and the mounting death toll in Syria. As we have said repeatedly, the violence and killings must stop," U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters.

Nesirky said the U.N. was encouraged by Syria's signature of an accord to let Arab League observers into the country to monitor claims against President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

"Now it is critical for the government of Syria to extend its full cooperation to that mission," the spokesman added.

The U.N. said last week that more than 5,000 people had been killed in Assad's bloody crackdown on opposition protests, but concerns have been heightened by opposition accounts of more than 200 people killed in the past two days.

The new deaths come as an advance Arab League team prepares to head to Damascus on Thursday to prepare the arrival of about 500 observers.

Comments 7
Default-user-icon Moe (Guest) over 12 years

This Is joke how can this go on for so long ?

Missing startrip over 12 years

250 dead during the last 48 hours.
Any doubts this regime lacks the morality and good intentions to implement the Arab League plan?
I fear for the safety of the observers, given the brutality of the regime and its criminal history.
In the end, the only solution will be military intervention of some sort to protect the population, and the Free Syrian Army will be key in tipping the balance against the bastard of Syria.

Default-user-icon Chady- LEB (Guest) over 12 years

It keeps going because the arab leaders are cowards, amd are just like Bashar!
I truly hope all repressed people of the Mid East stand up and take there countries back.
All that can be said, is God help the people of the Mid East, it going to be a long bumpy road ahead until you prevail!

Thumb shab over 12 years

How can the Syrians have a normal relation with the ALAWATIES after Bashar’s downfall? He has really hurt his sect as Hassoun has hurt the Shiites in Lebanon.

Default-user-icon Le PheneChien (Guest) over 12 years

It is so funny time and time again after 11 months of war crimes, the so called internal forces cannot stop the violence any longer, is this embarrassing enough to the president of a country to watch and hear about all these killings whether it's his side or the other side and do nothing about it? this man should be charged for all these crimes just for being quiet about it and not stopping it already.

Default-user-icon Dingobat (Guest) over 12 years

shab, the greatest mind Lebanon has known and its greatest caring humanitarian, is very much aware of the fact that his "Hassoun" has hurt the Shiites in Lebanon and this is why this humanitarian and man of mercy and forgiveness will champion the protection of the Shiites in Lebanon when his time of judgment comes eventually. As to the ALAWATIES (Alawaties?) and because of his preoccupation with saving the Shiites in Lebanon, shab will have neither the time nor the resources necessary to help them after Bashar's downfall, who, according to the other great mind, Gabby, should have fallen in 2005, then in 2006 and then in 2007 and then... two months ago had Gabby not given his "ASSad" one grace period after another. How much can this one man, shab, handle? He will be forgiven vis-a-vis the "ALAWATIES" should they be slaughtered because Bashar hurt them.

Missing big_man over 12 years

ye,ye...military intervention,,,and after that,the Arab coutries will be the "dogs"of the USA....such a shame..like many Arab coutries..Jordan,Iraq,Egypt,Kuwet,Qatar,Lybia....