CAIRO: The Arab League's committee on the Syrian crisis has issue a strong warning to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to immediately end the killing of civilian protesters, as approachs of uprisings against the Assad regime. The League “expressed the hope that the Syrian government would take action to protect civilians,” in its statement. The Syrian regime reportedly claimed that the message was “based on lies spread by inciting television channels.” Syrian government forces killed at least 40 civilians on Friday in Hama and Homs when they opened fire on demonstrations. Eyewitnesses also reported that helicopters rained machine gun fire and rockets on the protesters, showing an escalated military crackdown on the dissent, though reports are unconfirmed. Assad has barred independent media from entering the state, so many reports of the ongoing violence are hard to confirm. According to the United Nations, Assad's violent crackdowns have left nearly 3,000 people dead. Syrian opposition forces have called upon NATO for international protection, similarly to the rebel forces that overthrew the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. World powers show few signs that this move could happen, however. Protesters in Syria reported that they were energized by the death of the former leader last week. Assad has sworn to reform the government, however, the promise comes too late, as protesters seek to overthrow his entire regime. BM
