(BBC News) The Syrian army shelled the eastern city of Deir al-Zour for a second day on Monday. At least 50 people died on Sunday after the army launched a pre-dawn assault on Deir al-Zour that began with scores of tanks and armored personnel carriers moving into several parts of the city, while snipers had taken up positions on the rooftops of several buildings. "Private hospitals are closed and people are afraid to send the wounded to state facilities because they are infested with secret police," said a local resident. The Arab League issued a statement on Syria for the first time on Sunday. It said it was "alarmed" and called for an end to the violence. Turkey's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, is due in Damascus on Tuesday with a "tough" message for Syrian President Assad. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah announced that his country had recalled its ambassador to Damascus for consultations.
2011-08-08 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive