Syria bloodbath continues; at least 20 killed
Rights group says forces loyal to President Assad continue brutal crackdown over weekend
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Saturday security forces shot dead at least 20 people in Syria, as forces loyal to President Bashar Assad continued their brutal crackdown against rivals of the regime.
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Another activist group, the Local Coordination Committees, also said 34 people were killed, including eight army defectors. It did not say where the defectors were killed but there have been reports of clashes in the northwestern province of Idlib.
Meanwhile, the Arab League has given Syria until Wednesday to allow observers into the country or else it will likely turn to the UN Security Council for action to try to end the deadly violence against regime opponents, Qatar's prime minister said Saturday.
Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabr Al Thani said in Qatar that Arab foreign ministers will hold a "decisive and important" meeting in Cairo on Wednesday to decide on next steps. He said there is near unanimity on taking the Arab League's plan to the Security Council in hopes the world body can bring more pressure to bear on Damascus to accept it. Syria has demanded changes to the proposal, which calls for an end to the government's crackdown.
"We hope that the brothers in Syria sign before that date," Hamad said, referring to Wednesday's meeting.
Ynet contributed to the story
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