Syrian Revolt: 900 Dead and Counting

The number of people killed in the current Syrian uprising soared above 900 on Saturday when security officers fired on a crowd marching in memory of others lost to state violence during the two-month struggle.

With Syria banning most foreign journalists from covering the violence, death toll tallies are available only through human rights activists and others opposing the Assad regime. Unless international pressure is increased beyond the financial sanctions recently imposed by the U.S., it is feared the bloodshed will continue unabated. –ARK

The Huffington Post:

Syrian security forces opened fire on a funeral procession for slain anti-government protesters Saturday, pushing the number of people reported killed in a two-month uprising to more than 900 and making it one of the deadliest of the Arab Spring.

The latest bloodshed suggests that crackdowns by President Bashar Assad’s regime show no signs of easing despite international sanctions and condemnations from the U.S. and its allies.

… “International pressure is still weak,” said Hilal Khashan, a political science professor at the American University of Beirut. “Despite Obama’s speech, the regime knows that staying in power is more important and in order to stay in power the regime is ready to do anything.”

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