CAIRO: Syrian human rights activists said militants loyal to President Bashar al-Assad killed 86 people in the villages of Maarzaf and Qubair in the Hama province, one of the hot spots for the uprising against the Syrian regime. Activists said the men stabbed and shot civilians in Hama, including many women and children, some at point blank range. The massacre comes less than a week after the death of 108 people in Houla was reported by activists, making June one of the bloodiest months in the Syrian uprising that started in March 2011. Activists said “Shabiha,” or thugs loyal to Assad, stormed the two villages and killed “nearly everyone.” They reported that the militants were supported by army tanks, who secured the entrances and exists of the areas. Officials said they found bodies after a massacre was carried out by “terrorists.” Syrian state TV reported that “a terrorist group has committed a heinous crime.” The activist network group the Local Coordination Committee said the total number of dead reached 140 on Wednesday. “Wednesday drew to an end in Syria with over 140 martyrs, among them about 50 women and children,” said LCC in a statement. “The Committees documented over 400 points of demonstration in addition to the arrest of hundreds of Syrians from various cities,” it continued. The network also reported that the regime forces have breached the United Nation's Kofi Annan initiative in over 500 points and said gunfire and shelling were used. The latest development in Syria raised the alarm against civilian causalities and proved that the Syrian government is not committed towards the ceasefire initiative. The group also warned of an imminent humanitarian disaster in the town of Misraba as lack of water, electricity and communications are driving residents out of their homes. They added that the crisis has continued for 6 consecutive days after officials allegedly threatened to “wipe the city of the map” according to the group. Officials have accused the town of harboring defected soldiers and the group said the mayor and the local mosque's imam have been detained and threatened of being executed if the defected soldiers are not handed over. Hundreds of Syrian soldiers have defected and escaped, fearing for their lives while reports mentioned that those who refused to fire at protesters were themselves killed on the spot. Over 10,000 civilians have been killed in Syria since the uprising began, with the international community appearing impotent to resolve the ongoing bloodshed.
