By Windsor Genova

Damascus, Syria

Residents of Homs, Syria, accused security forces of attacking protesters on Tuesday as 50 Arab League observers start their fact-finding mission in the western city, where protests against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad that erupted in March continue.

Opposition activists claim that 29 people were killed in the latest conflicts. Security forces were seen shooting tear gas and bullets at thousands of protesters gathered at the Clock Square in downtown Homs, injuring seven people. Dozens of protesters were also arrested.

People attending a funeral in the neighborhood of Baba Amr were also shot at, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and an opposition activist network called Local Coordination Committees of Syria (LCC). Demonstrations were also held in streets of other Homs neighborhoods, the largest of which was at Khalidiah, where an estimated 35,000 demonstrators gathered.

The LCC counted 11 deaths in Homs, four in Daraa, four in the Damascus suburbs, three at Damascus University, three in Hama, two in Deir Ezzor, and one each in Idlib and Latakia.

The violent crackdown against protesters occurred as the team of Arab League monitors started their inspection of Syria's third-largest city to verify compliance with Arab League conditions that the government stop attacks on civilian demonstrators, withdraw troops from cities and release detainees.

Troops and 11 tanks withdrew from the streets of Baba Amr in the morning, but SOHR claims the government is deceiving observers by hiding tanks in government centers.

The head of the observation team, Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi, of Sudan, met with Homs governor Ghassan Abdel Al. They also inspected damage in the Bab Sebaa neighborhood and met with relatives of people killed in the violence and kidnapped by terrorist groups.

Up to 200 Arab League observers will assess the situation in Syria, where 5,000 have died in violent crackdowns on protesters and attacks on police and soldiers.

 

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Syrian Protesters in Homs Claim Attacks, Killings | Global Viewpoint