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July 18, 2011

At Least 30 Activists Killed As Syrian Forces Expand Crackdown 
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It has been another bloody weekend in Syria as government forces
expanded their crackdown on protesters. In the city of Homs, at least 30
activists died Sunday when the Syrian military sent tanks into the city.
Syrian troops also reportedly opened fire on demonstrators in the city
of Deir Ezzor. In Damascus, Syrian troops arrested the prominent writer
Ali Abdallah. Human rights groups say more than 1,700 people have now
been killed since the protests began in March. Meanwhile, more than 300
Syrian activists and dissidents met in Istanbul over the weekend to form
a National Salvation Council that could form the basis for a
transitional government. Attendees included Haitham al-Maleh, the
longtime Syrian human rights attorney and former political prisoner.

Haitham Al-Maleh, President of Syrian Human Rights Association: "What I
ask ... What I ask from those present here is to cooperate ... and be
faithful. Because making statements is easy, but changing the reality is
not easy. I hope that we all realize that we are up against a difficult
regime in Syria."



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