- Title: TURKEY: Turkish protesters condemn the crackdown in the Syrian city of Homs
- Date: 5th February 2012
- Summary: VARIOUS OF WOMAN HOLDING A DOLL WITH FAKE BLOOD ON ITS HEAD VARIOUS OF WOMEN CHANTING, RAISING INDEX FINGERS AND SHOUTING "GOD IS GREAT" WOMAN CARRYING BANNER READING IN TURKISH "The murderer Assad will pay" (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) MALE PROTESTER MAHMUT OSMAN, SAYING: "During a night when God's mercy was upon people and brotherhood was strengthening, the murderous Syrian
- Embargoed: 20th February 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Turkey, Turkey
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA4TW3JZFMDFZFK508Q45QZAW7O
- Story Text: Protesters gathered outside the Syrian consulate in Istanbul on Saturday (February 4) to condemn the military assault by Syrian forces on the city of Homs.
The outraged crowd carried placards and chanted slogans against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, demanding his resignation.
The protest in Istanbul came on the day similar demonstrations against the latest violence in Syria took place outside Syrian embassies in the Middle East, Europe and the United States.
"During a night when God's mercy was upon people and brotherhood was strengthening, the murderous Syrian regime shed blood and killed more than 300 people in the city of Homs as they continued their massacre. We have to say stop to this regime," protester Mahmut Osman said.
Russia and China vetoed on Saturday an Arab- and Western-backed resolution at the U.N. Security Council calling for Assad to step down over his bloody crackdown on a popular uprising.
The setback in diplomatic efforts to defuse the revolt peacefully came after world leaders and Syrian opposition activists accused Assad's forces of killing hundreds of people in the Homs crackdown.
Shortly before the Security Council voted, U.S. President Barack Obama denounced the "unspeakable assault" on Homs, demanded that Assad leave power immediately and called for U.N. action against Assad's "relentless brutality".
Death tolls cited by activists and opposition groups ranged from 237 to 260, making the Homs attack the deadliest so far in Assad's crackdown on protests and one of the bloodiest episodes in the "Arab Spring" of revolts that have swept the region.
Residents said Syrian forces began shelling the Khalidiya neighbourhood at around 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Friday using artillery and mortars. They said at least 36 houses were completely destroyed with families inside.
An activist in the neighbourhood contacted by Reuters said residents were using primitive tools to rescue people. They feared many were buried under rubble.
A third Khalidiya resident, speaking by telephone with wailing and cries of "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest) audible in the background, said at least 40 corpses had been retrieved from streets and damaged buildings.
Syria denied shelling Homs and said Internet video of corpses was staged. It is not possible to verify activist or state media reports as Syria restricts independent media access.
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