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Syria joins roll call of civilian slaughter Syria joins roll call of civilian slaughter
(about 9 hours later)
At noon on Friday, they gathered for their familiar and increasingly futile weekly ritual – an act of peaceable defiance against the regime they loathe. The chants resounded far and wide, audible to the army troops menacingly nearby and to the adjoining Allawite villages largely sympathetic to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. "The Allawites have been hearing our chants for many months," said Houla resident Abu Jaffour. "And neither they, nor the army have liked what we've been saying. Maybe that's why they did what they did."At noon on Friday, they gathered for their familiar and increasingly futile weekly ritual – an act of peaceable defiance against the regime they loathe. The chants resounded far and wide, audible to the army troops menacingly nearby and to the adjoining Allawite villages largely sympathetic to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. "The Allawites have been hearing our chants for many months," said Houla resident Abu Jaffour. "And neither they, nor the army have liked what we've been saying. Maybe that's why they did what they did."
Three hours later, vengeance rolled into town with a savagery rarely paralleled in the 15-month Syrian uprising. When the shelling and gunfire stopped early on Saturday, more than 100 people had been killed, at least one third of them children. Some appeared to have been killed at close range as they cowered in barricaded homes. Three hours later, vengeance rolled into town with a savagery rarely paralleled in the 15-month Syrian uprising. When the shelling and gunfire stopped early on Saturday, more than 90 people had been killed, at least one-third of them children. Some appeared to have been killed at close range as they cowered in barricaded homes.
In a few short hours, the town of Houla joined the sorry list of localities whose names have become synonymous with the merciless slaughter of civilians. Srebrenica. Nyarubuye. My Lai. Up to now, the Syrian conflict has killed 13,000 people. But until this weekend, it had yet to include the mass slaughter of nursery-age infants.In a few short hours, the town of Houla joined the sorry list of localities whose names have become synonymous with the merciless slaughter of civilians. Srebrenica. Nyarubuye. My Lai. Up to now, the Syrian conflict has killed 13,000 people. But until this weekend, it had yet to include the mass slaughter of nursery-age infants.
"The shelling started around 3pm," said Abu Jaffour. "I was in the fields at the time and we tried to reach the area being bombed. It took us three hours to get there. When I reached the houses it was dreadful. I was carrying babies' bodies that had parts of their heads hanging out.""The shelling started around 3pm," said Abu Jaffour. "I was in the fields at the time and we tried to reach the area being bombed. It took us three hours to get there. When I reached the houses it was dreadful. I was carrying babies' bodies that had parts of their heads hanging out."
A second Houla resident, Imm Mowafik, said that nightfall brought more brutality. "The Shabiha [pro-regime civilian militias] came into town from the direction of the Allawite villages. They entered from five to seven checkpoints and were killing people in their homes. We could hear the shots and nobody could help them." Abu Jaffour said: "We have buried around 110 martyrs and there are still some people under the rubble. Twenty-two of the children are nursery age."A second Houla resident, Imm Mowafik, said that nightfall brought more brutality. "The Shabiha [pro-regime civilian militias] came into town from the direction of the Allawite villages. They entered from five to seven checkpoints and were killing people in their homes. We could hear the shots and nobody could help them." Abu Jaffour said: "We have buried around 110 martyrs and there are still some people under the rubble. Twenty-two of the children are nursery age."
Last night, the UN security council convened an emergency session to discuss what the White House called a "vile testament to an illegitimate regime". The foreign secretary, William Hague, will arrive in Moscow on Monday to take up the matter with Assad's closest security council ally, Russia. The UN special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, whose tattered peace plan remains in effect on paper alone, will head for Damascus on an emergency mission to stop the crisis from unravelling even further.Last night, the UN security council convened an emergency session to discuss what the White House called a "vile testament to an illegitimate regime". The foreign secretary, William Hague, will arrive in Moscow on Monday to take up the matter with Assad's closest security council ally, Russia. The UN special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, whose tattered peace plan remains in effect on paper alone, will head for Damascus on an emergency mission to stop the crisis from unravelling even further.
"This appalling and brutal crime involving indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force is a flagrant violation of international law and of the commitments of the Syrian government to cease the use of heavy weapons in population centres and violence in all its forms," the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said before Annan's visit."This appalling and brutal crime involving indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force is a flagrant violation of international law and of the commitments of the Syrian government to cease the use of heavy weapons in population centres and violence in all its forms," the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said before Annan's visit.
Syria on Sunday denied it was responsible, blaming al-Qaida for the carnage – a refrain it repeats after all large bombings and shootings.Syria on Sunday denied it was responsible, blaming al-Qaida for the carnage – a refrain it repeats after all large bombings and shootings.
"Al-Qaida hiding in the mountains?" asked Abu Jaffour. "They expect people to believe that? These mountain areas are the Allawite villages and Houla is full of the families of the Free Syrian Army [FSA]." Like much of the rest of Homs province in central Syria, Houla had become a hub of armed opposition to the Assad regime, which is trying to repress the most sustained challenge to its four decades of rule."Al-Qaida hiding in the mountains?" asked Abu Jaffour. "They expect people to believe that? These mountain areas are the Allawite villages and Houla is full of the families of the Free Syrian Army [FSA]." Like much of the rest of Homs province in central Syria, Houla had become a hub of armed opposition to the Assad regime, which is trying to repress the most sustained challenge to its four decades of rule.
Houla residents claim that 600 defectors are in Houla. If true, the small town of 35,000 residents would be a stronghold of the opposition militia, in the area now known as the heartland of the Syrian revolution.Houla residents claim that 600 defectors are in Houla. If true, the small town of 35,000 residents would be a stronghold of the opposition militia, in the area now known as the heartland of the Syrian revolution.
The battle has become increasingly sectarian. Syria's third city, Homs, and its surrounding hinterland is a patchwork of Allawite and Sunni enclaves and tensions between the sects have increasingly spilled over into violence.The battle has become increasingly sectarian. Syria's third city, Homs, and its surrounding hinterland is a patchwork of Allawite and Sunni enclaves and tensions between the sects have increasingly spilled over into violence.
Several observers say the violence in Homs has developed a clear pattern. "All of these areas that have been attacked like this are geographically and demographically close to Allawite areas," said Wissam Tarif, the Arab world campaigner for the global rights group Avaaz. "There have been 13 neighbourhoods of Homs emptied," he said. "There are residents there but they are not significant populations. The common denominator in these areas is that they are close to Allawite communities. There are hundreds of thousands of people on the move.Several observers say the violence in Homs has developed a clear pattern. "All of these areas that have been attacked like this are geographically and demographically close to Allawite areas," said Wissam Tarif, the Arab world campaigner for the global rights group Avaaz. "There have been 13 neighbourhoods of Homs emptied," he said. "There are residents there but they are not significant populations. The common denominator in these areas is that they are close to Allawite communities. There are hundreds of thousands of people on the move.
"This is not just some angry guys who went and killed these families. This is a state policy, a regime policy, spreading sectarian tensions. People in Houla are going to retaliate. They will enter into yet another cycle of violence.""This is not just some angry guys who went and killed these families. This is a state policy, a regime policy, spreading sectarian tensions. People in Houla are going to retaliate. They will enter into yet another cycle of violence."
A third resident of Houla said that more than three-quarters of the population of the town was now on the move, with many travelling to rural areas to escape fighting which was continuing on Sunday night. "They are sleeping in their fields," said the man who identified himself as Abu Wael. "Another 10,000 have moved into the homes of families in other parts of Houla." Syrian opposition towns visited by UN monitors say the officials have been slow to respond and given little room to independently assess flashpoint areas.A third resident of Houla said that more than three-quarters of the population of the town was now on the move, with many travelling to rural areas to escape fighting which was continuing on Sunday night. "They are sleeping in their fields," said the man who identified himself as Abu Wael. "Another 10,000 have moved into the homes of families in other parts of Houla." Syrian opposition towns visited by UN monitors say the officials have been slow to respond and given little room to independently assess flashpoint areas.
Annan had struck a deal with Damascus for 300 monitors to be allowed into Syria. However less than half have so far arrived. "It now needs to be 3,000," said Tarif.Annan had struck a deal with Damascus for 300 monitors to be allowed into Syria. However less than half have so far arrived. "It now needs to be 3,000," said Tarif.