Syrian Troops, Tanks Fire on Town Near Lebanon Border
Syrian troops and tanks have fired on a town near the Lebanese border where residents have defied the government as part of a two-month old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's rule.
Gunfire and shelling shook the Syrian town of Talkalakh and the nearby village of Arida Thursday. One rights activist told the Associated Press that armed civilians fired back at the government troops. Syrian rights groups say security forces have killed at least 27 people in the area since beginning a crackdown there on Saturday.
The United States imposed sanctions on Assad and six of his aides Wednesday, saying it is holding them personally accountable for deadly attacks by Syrian security forces on opposition protesters. Washington also called on the Syrian president to lead a transition to democracy or leave power.
Syria denounced the U.S. sanctions Thursday. In a statement published by state news agency SANA, the Syrian government said the measures target the Syrian people and serve "Israeli interests." The statement said the U.S. sanctions will not affect Syria's determination to achieve "comprehensive" reforms.
The sanctions include a freeze on U.S.-based assets of President Assad and the other officials and a ban on American citizens and companies from doing business with them. It is not clear what assets will be blocked. The European Union has said it is considering toughening its own sanctions on Syria to include measures against Mr. Assad.
Syrian rights activists say more than 850 civilians have been killed across the country since mid-March, when protesters began calling for democratic reforms and Assad's ouster. Authorities have arrested at least 7,000 people as part of the crackdown.
fuente: http://www.voanews.com/
Gunfire and shelling shook the Syrian town of Talkalakh and the nearby village of Arida Thursday. One rights activist told the Associated Press that armed civilians fired back at the government troops. Syrian rights groups say security forces have killed at least 27 people in the area since beginning a crackdown there on Saturday.
The United States imposed sanctions on Assad and six of his aides Wednesday, saying it is holding them personally accountable for deadly attacks by Syrian security forces on opposition protesters. Washington also called on the Syrian president to lead a transition to democracy or leave power.
Syria denounced the U.S. sanctions Thursday. In a statement published by state news agency SANA, the Syrian government said the measures target the Syrian people and serve "Israeli interests." The statement said the U.S. sanctions will not affect Syria's determination to achieve "comprehensive" reforms.
The sanctions include a freeze on U.S.-based assets of President Assad and the other officials and a ban on American citizens and companies from doing business with them. It is not clear what assets will be blocked. The European Union has said it is considering toughening its own sanctions on Syria to include measures against Mr. Assad.
Syrian rights activists say more than 850 civilians have been killed across the country since mid-March, when protesters began calling for democratic reforms and Assad's ouster. Authorities have arrested at least 7,000 people as part of the crackdown.
fuente: http://www.voanews.com/
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