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The Syrian government launched a major military operation Monday, sending thousands of troops into the town where the country's uprising began, to carry out what witnesses described as a brutal, wider-scale crackdown.
The United States threatened sanctions against the country, calling for a halt to Syria's "deplorable" actions. At the United Nations, a draft statement condemning the violence was being circulated among security council members, a U.N. diplomat said.
Between 4,000 and 5,000 members of the Army and security forces raided the southern city of Daraa just after 4 a.m. equipped with seven tanks, and began shooting indiscriminately, in some cases shooting into homes as people slept, according to an activist with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Seven people were confirmed killed in the city, the activist said.
Other witnesses described a trail of dead bodies in the streets.
"Ambulances could not help the injured because of the snipers and army officers who are deployed all over the city," one witness in Daraa said. "They shoot on anything that moves."
A military official -- the second commander in a brigade that entered Daraa -- defected over the violence, the activist with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and another opposition source said. The commander was then arrested, the activist said.
"The United States is pursuing a range of possible policy options, including targeted sanctions, to respond to the crackdown and make clear that this behavior is unacceptable," Vietor said in the statement. "The Syrian people's call for freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and the ability to freely choose their leaders must be heard."
The United States is preparing new sanctions against members of Bashar al-Assad's regime who are overseeing the violent crackdown, according to several senior U.S. officials with knowledge of the action. A new Treasury Department executive order targeting senior officials accused of human rights abuses would involve an asset freeze and travel ban, as well as prohibiting them from doing business in the United States.
A U.N. diplomat said a draft security council statement sponsored by France, Portgual, and the United Kingdom condemned the violence and called for restraint. It also supported Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's call for an independent investigation on the matter. The draft was to be formally introduced Monday, and a final statement could be agreed upon by Tuesday, the diplomat said.
U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay issued a statement saying Syria has offered "paper reforms followed by violent crackdowns on protesters."
Originally posted by Agent_USA_Supporter
You can bet the Russians and Chinese have been waiting for the right moment,personally i wouldn't mind it if the russians liberate the entire euporean peninsula.
America and NATO are both hated by alot of euporean people even Germans dont like the unfitted Germany now.
Good thread op.
S&Fedit on 25-4-2011 by Agent_USA_Supporter because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by Itop1
Nothing will come of Syria, mark my words, sanctions will be imposed and the whole thing brushed under the carpet.
no ww3 here sorry, move along.
Third World War will begin in March of 2014 please read my thread... 2012 is now OLD news...
Originally posted by Ben81Dont underestimate China and Russia
Will they let Nato strike inside Syria .. dont think so
Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
As of now it makes little sense to me why the CIA would instigate these revolutions, but I am sure they have. Why give Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria over to the Muslim Brotherhood? Would that not create an alliance with Iran?