A Syrian rights group has said security forces in Syria killed more than 80 people in the last 24 hours, making it one of the deadliest spans of an eight-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told VOA Tuesday it documented the killings of 38 civilians and 18 suspected army defectors in Daraa province Monday. The group also reported many deaths in the central cities of Hama and Homs, including several people whose bodies were found with signs of torture.
The group said the Syrian Free Army, composed of military defectors, reportedly killed at least 34 government soldiers in fighting Monday.
There was no independent confirmation of the casualties because Syria bars most foreign journalists from the country. Syrian rights activists say about 200 other people were killed this month in the government's crackdown on dissent.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief and former ambassador to the United States, Prince Turki al-Faisal, said the departure of the Syrian leader was “inevitable” as calls for an end to his bloody crackdown on dissent continued.
Turki, who spoke to reporters in Washington, said Mr. Assad has not responded to calls to halt the violence against anti-government protestors and therefore — in his opinion — he will have to step down.
His comments came a day after Jordan's King Abdullah became the first Arab leader to urge Syria's president to resign.
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon again urged Mr. Assad to “stop the killing his own people,” while the Security Council strongly condemned the attacks on several embassies in Damascus and other cities and called on Syria's government to protect diplomatic areas.
The United States, meanwhile, urged Arab leaders to step up pressure on Syria ahead of their meeting in Morocco Wednesday to discuss the situation.
In Turkey, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country no longer expects Mr. Assad to meet the demands of the Syrian people. Turkey's energy minister said his country has cancelled plans to jointly explore for oil at six wells in Syria and implied Turkey might cut back its electricity supply to Syria if the violence continues.
In Moscow, leaders of the main Syrian opposition council met with Russian leaders. Interfax news agency said the Syrian National Council urged Russia to demand that President Assad step down.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on all opposition groups that shun violence to join the Arab League initiative to start a dialogue between Syria's government and opposition leaders.
Russia and China last month blocked a move in the U.N. Security Council to condemn Mr. Assad's government.
Syria's suspension from the league will take effect Wednesday, the same day Arab foreign ministers are due to meet in Morocco to discuss the situation.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem on Monday blasted the Arab League action, calling it “illegal” and a “very dangerous step.”
Syrian state television, meanwhile, reported Tuesday the government had released at least 1,100 people arrested during the unrest, in what appeared to be an attempt to appease Arab League demands.
The United Nations says at least 3,500 people have been killed in connection with Syria's anti-government uprising since March. Syria blames much of the violence on foreign-backed terrorists and religious extremists.
