Syria: Tanks move in as siege of Hama intensifies

TANKS took over a main square in the besieged Syrian city of Hama and power was cut off yesterday as President Bashar Assad showed no sign of halting the intense military assault against anti-government protesters.

At least three tanks took up position in central Assi square, which had been thronged by hundreds of thousands in the weeks before the latest crackdown in some of the largest demonstrations against Mr Assad's rule.

For the past four days Syrian troops have tightened their siege on Hama, sending residents fleeing. The death toll since Sunday has reached about 100, but the exact figure is difficult to verify.

There were reports of a new military push into the city, with fresh explosions and machine-gun fire heard in many parts of the city.

"We are being subjected to shelling, machine gun fire, sniper fire, everything you can think of," said activist Omar al-Hamawi.

He said the shelling was mostly targeting al-Hader neighbourhood but sporadic tank and gunfire was also heard in other parts of the city.

"Early this morning people heard the sound of bombs," said Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "Then the phone lines were cut."

He said residents on the outskirts of Hama reported seeing lines of tanks heading towards the city early in the day, and the blasts were heard soon after.

The observatory relies on a network of sources on the ground throughout Syria.

The operation has drawn a fresh wave of international condemnation against a regime defying the growing calls to end its crackdown on anti-government protesters.

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton met US-based Syrian democracy activists as the Obama administration considered new sanctions against Syria. Congressional calls also mounted for action against Mr Assad's regime.

About 1,700 civilians have been killed since the largely peaceful protests began.