Syrian troops tighten siege on city of Hama

THE Syrian military tightened its suffocating siege on the city of Hama yesterday, as activists said security forces killed at least 24 civilians the day before in a nationwide crackdown on anti-government protesters.

A Hama resident said tanks shelled the city on Friday night, which resulted in several casualties. He said there were reports that at least one of the hospitals in the city had been targeted.

Authorities have imposed a media blackout on Hama and the reports could not be immediately confirmed.

The resident sneaked out of besieged Hama on Friday to try and get supplies, and spoke yesterday by phone from the city's outskirts. "I am trying to get back but it's impossible. They've tightened the siege even more, not even an ant can go in or out today," he said.

Syria's government has broadcast images of buildings and empty rubble-strewn streets in Hama, the centre of the protests, claiming the military was putting an end to an armed rebellion launched by "terrorists".

The brutal crackdown has sparked international outrage, and a group of Gulf Arab countries yesterday broke their silence on the bloodshed, calling for an immediate end to the violence and for implementation of "serious" reforms in Syria.

In a statement posted on its website, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council expressed deep concern and regret for "the escalating violence in Syria and use of excess force".

"GCC countries … call for an immediate end to the violence and any armed appearances, as well as an end to the bloodshed," it said.

Under the relentless clampdown, Hama residents warned medical supplies were running out and food was rotting after days without electricity.

One resident described the humanitarian situation as "catastrophic."

Everything was closed, including bakeries and pharmacies, he said.

"There are sick people, people with diabetes who have run out of insulin. The food has spoiled because there's no electricity," he said. "You cannot imagine how tired and terrified people are."

Syrian government forces launched the Hama assault last Sunday, cutting off electricity, phone services and internet and blocking supplies into the city of 800,000 as they shelled neighbourhoods and sent in tanks and ground raids.