Syrian troops raid city
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this citizen journalism image made on a mobile phone and acquired by the Associated Press, a Syrian boy carries a board that reads:" stop the killing," during a protest in Daraya, southwest of Damascus, Syria, Monday, April 25, 2011. In a terrifying escalation of Syria's crackdown on dissent, thousands of soldiers backed by tanks poured Monday into the southern city of Daraa, on the Jordanian border, the city where the uprising began, opening fire indiscriminately on civilians and killing at least 11 people, witnesses said. Knife-wielding security agents did house-to-house sweeps in what activists called a campaign to intimidate protesters.
Associated Press
BEIRUT
Thousands of soldiers backed by tanks and snipers moved in before dawn to the city where Syria’s anti-government uprising began, causing panic in the streets when they opened fire indiscriminately on civilians and went house-to-house rounding up suspected protesters. At least 11 people were killed and 14 others lay in the streets — either dead or gravely wounded, witnesses said.
The military raids on the southern city of Daraa and at least two other areas suggested Syria is trying to impose military control on the centers of protests against President Bashar Assad, whose family has ruled Syria for four decades. Residents and human rights activists said the regime wants to terrify opponents and intimidate them from staging any more demonstrations.
The offensive was meticulously planned: Electricity, water and mobile phone services were cut. Security agents armed with guns and knives conducted house-to-house sweeps, neighborhoods were sectioned off and checkpoints were erected before the sun rose.
“They have snipers firing on everybody who is moving,” a witness told The Associated Press by telephone. “They aren’t discriminating. There are snipers on the mosque. They are firing at everybody,” he added, asking that his name not be used for fear of retribution.
The massive assault on Daraa appeared to be part of new strategy of crippling, pre-emptive strikes against any opposition to Assad, rather than reacting to demonstrations.
The attack on Daraa, an impoverished city on the Jordanian border, was by far the biggest in scope and firepower. Witnesses said busloads of troops poured in before dawn and snipers took up positions on the roofs of houses and high buildings while other security agents searched houses for suspected protesters.