Syrian govt. uses helicopters to attack protesters

Syrian government forces reportedly used helicopters to attack demonstrators in several clashes across the country on Friday, killing dozens of people. Some of the worst violence took place in the northwestern town of Jisr al-Shughur, near the border with Turkey. Syrian govt. uses helicopters to attack protesters Human rights activists said at least 25 people were killed across Syria on Friday, including 11 in the northwest of the country. State television reported that the assault on Jisr al-Shughur was "at the request of residents" to take care of the "armed gangs." Activists said the town was largely deserted after most of the 50,000 residents fled. Many have crossed the border into Turkey. On Wednesday state television broadcast images of "massacres" in the town, accusing "armed terrorist gangs" of killing 120 police officers and soldiers. Opposition activists said the deaths were due to a mutiny when troops refused to fire on protesters. People across towns and cities in Syria took to the streets in protest after Friday prayers, chanting slogans against President Bashar al-Assad and in support of Jisr al-Shughur residents. News agencies quoted witnesses as saying helicopter gunships fired at protesters in Maaret al-Numan. According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the helicopters opened fire on a police station that had been taken over by protesters. The Turkish government, normally friendly with the Syrian regime, issued its harshest condemnation of the violence yet. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Syrian forces "do not behave humanely" and that the crackdown would "necessarily" lead to action by the UN Security Council. Meanwhile UN officials said Assad has refused to take phone calls from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who reiterated on Friday that "the use of military force against civilians is unacceptable." Washington has toughened its stance on Syria, calling for a halt to the nearly three-month crackdown. "There must be an immediate end to the brutality and violence," said White House Spokesman Jay Carney. UN Security Council diplomats held new talks on Friday on a proposed European resolution condemning the deadly crackdown, but got no closer to a full vote. Talks are to be extended through the weekend. At least 1,300 people have been killed and more than 10,000 detained since anti-government protests began in mid-March, according to rights groups and activists. However, because of restrictions on journalists in the country, reports are difficult to verify. Protests in Syria(Tanjug, file)

Syrian govt. uses helicopters to attack protesters

Human rights activists said at least 25 people were killed across Syria on Friday, including 11 in the northwest of the country.

State television reported that the assault on Jisr al-Shughur was "at the request of residents" to take care of the "armed gangs." Activists said the town was largely deserted after most of the 50,000 residents fled. Many have crossed the border into Turkey.

On Wednesday state television broadcast images of "massacres" in the town, accusing "armed terrorist gangs" of killing 120 police officers and soldiers.

Opposition activists said the deaths were due to a mutiny when troops refused to fire on protesters.

People across towns and cities in Syria took to the streets in protest after Friday prayers, chanting slogans against President Bashar al-Assad and in support of Jisr al-Shughur residents.

News agencies quoted witnesses as saying helicopter gunships fired at protesters in Maaret al-Numan. According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the helicopters opened fire on a police station that had been taken over by protesters.

The Turkish government, normally friendly with the Syrian regime, issued its harshest condemnation of the violence yet. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Syrian forces "do not behave humanely" and that the crackdown would "necessarily" lead to action by the UN Security Council.

Meanwhile UN officials said Assad has refused to take phone calls from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who reiterated on Friday that "the use of military force against civilians is unacceptable."

Washington has toughened its stance on Syria, calling for a halt to the nearly three-month crackdown.

"There must be an immediate end to the brutality and violence," said White House Spokesman Jay Carney.

UN Security Council diplomats held new talks on Friday on a proposed European resolution condemning the deadly crackdown, but got no closer to a full vote. Talks are to be extended through the weekend.

At least 1,300 people have been killed and more than 10,000 detained since anti-government protests began in mid-March, according to rights groups and activists. However, because of restrictions on journalists in the country, reports are difficult to verify.