Syrian Army 'Kills 20' As Arab League Arrives - 26th Dec 2011

A renewed military campaign in Syria has reportedly killed at least 20 people as an Arab League delegation arrives in the country to assess the ongoing crisis.

Heavy machine gun fire and mortar shells fired by government troops targeted the Baba Amr district of Homs, activists said.

It is the third day of violence following car bombs that rocked the capital Damascus which killed 44 people and wounded over 100 more.

YouTube videos purportedly filmed in Homs, show a number of tanks lined up opposite what appear to be residential homes, and firing randomly.

Activists have called for the Arab delegation to visit the city immediately in order to witness the continued crackdown, which has left more than 300 dead around the country in the last week alone.

France has led calls for the observers to head straight to Homs: "The Damascus authorities must imperatively, in accordance with the Arab League plan, allow observers access this afternoon to the city of Homs, where the violence is particularly bloody," spokesman Bernard Valero said

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also echoed the call of activists for the League to travel straight to the opposition city, particularly the "disaster-stricken" Baba Amr district.

"We urge the Arab observers to head immediately to Baba Amr to be witnesses to the crimes against humanity that are being perpetrated by the Syrian regime," the Observatory said in a statement. Read More