Syria continues attacks on major centres of dissent

Feb 16, 2012, 17:00 GMT

Cairo - The Syrian army on Thursday launched fresh attacks in the city of Daraa, the birthplace of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accused the government of possible crimes against humanity.

'We see neighbourhoods shelled indiscriminately, hospitals used as torture centres, children as young as 10 years old jailed and abused,' Ban told reporters in Vienna. 'We see almost a certain crime against humanity.'

Activists said government forces clashed with rebel fighters in the southern city of Daraa, near the border with Jordan, killing at least 18 gunmen.

There was also violence in the besieged city of Hama, where government forces killed 10 army defectors in clashes.

Government forces also shelled the central city of Homs for a 12th consecutive day. Dozens of rebel fighters are believed to be hiding in the city's Baba Amr neighbourhood, which is besieged by the Syrian army. Activists put Thursday's death toll at 40.

The government has intensified attacks on flashpoint cities in an apparent bid to crush an uprising that erupted in March and which increasingly resembles a civil war.

The United Nations General Assembly is on Thursday set to vote on an Arab-backed resolution condemning crimes by the Syrian government. The resolution, which is set to pass in the 193-strong assembly where there is no veto power, also backs an Arab League peace plan.

An Arab-Western draft resolution calling on Assad to step down and hand over power to his deputy was vetoed by Russia and China at the UN Security Council this month. France and other western powers are working on a softer draft that would be accepted by Russia.

The UN chief said ending the violence was more important than a plan by al-Assad to hold a referendum this month on a new constitution that would allow political parties other than his ruling Baath to take part in elections.

'This (referendum) may be one of the elements that should be included' in a political settlement of the Syrian crisis, Ban said. 'But what is important at this time is that first the Syrian authorities must stop killing their own people,' he added.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says more than 7,200 people have died since last March.