Arab League steps up pressure on Syria

MORE than 250 government tanks and armoured vehicles have laid waste to Syria's largest eastern city, leaving scores of people dead and raising fresh fears of civil war.

Even as the Arab League spoke out against Syria for the first time, President Bashar al-Assad's regime widened its Ramadan offensive against the protest movement seeking to overthrow him.

Saudi Arabia also added to the pressure on the Syrian regime. In a statement calling on Syria's leaders to "stop the killing machine", King Abdullah said he was recalling the Saudi ambassador from Damascus for consultations.
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Activists said at least 41 people were killed in Deir al-Zour, Syria's oil capital, after tanks and armoured vehicles advanced on it from four directions before dawn. Another 19 people were killed in western Syria as tanks shelled Hula in Homs province, bringing Sunday's death toll to at least 62.

Like the western city of Hama, Deir al-Zour had effectively fallen under the control of protesters, who had erected barricades to keep out the military, enabling them to stage massive anti-government demonstrations that drew tens of thousands of people.

Deir al-Zour has a significant population of armed tribesmen, who were provided with weapons by the state to counter the perceived separatist threat posed by Kurds in neighbouring areas.

Deir al-Zour inhabitants have already shown they are prepared to use their weapons, fighting back against regime forces last week after five protesters were killed.

Although it was unclear how much resistance regime forces met on Sunday, the threat of a bloody confrontation prompted an unprecedented intervention by the Arab League.

The league demanded an immediate end ''to acts of violence and campaigns by the security forces against civilians'' in Deir al-Zour and Hama, where more than 100 people were killed last week at the beginning of the Ramadan offensive.

An Arab League appeal for international intervention in Libya laid the ground for NATO's bombing campaign there, but it has been reticent about criticising Mr Assad, a much more important power broker in the region.

King Abdullah said "the kingdom does not accept the situation in Syria, because the developments cannot be justified". He urged Damascus to introduce "comprehensive and quick reforms''.

"The future of Syria lies between two options: either Syria chooses willingly to resort to reason, or face being swept into deep chaos, God forbid," he said.

Turkey, which has invested considerable diplomatic capital in improving ties with Syria, also stepped up its criticism of Mr Assad, saying Ankara had ''run out of patience''. Turkey's Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, arrives in Damascus to deliver this message today.

Mr Assad brushed off international criticism as he vowed to press ahead with his assault on Deir al-Zour.

''To deal with outlaws who cut off roads, seal towns and terrorise residents is a duty of the state, which must defend security and protect the lives of civilians,'' he said on Sunday.

In Deir al-Zour, streets were deserted as the sound of tank shells and automatic gunfire echoed through the city, which had been besieged for nine days before the assault began.

In one suburb, al-Jura, at least 20 people were killed, according to the opposition.

Residents spoke of snipers on rooftops, picking off any civilians venturing outside. ''I can see several bodies on the road near a roundabout,'' one resident said. ''But no one dares to go out to bury them.''

In its latest overture to the protesters, the Syrian government promised to hold ''free and transparent'' parliamentary elections before the end of the year - an offer that was unlikely to placate the opposition.

Source: TELEGRAPH, WASHINGTON POST