International Pressure Mounts on Syria as Military Siege Continues
Photo: AFP/STR
Syrians protest in the city of Banias holding up a sign that reads in Arabic, "Stop the innocent blood bath" on April 26, 2011
Members of the U.N. Security Council are due to meet Wednesday to discuss a joint statement condemning the continuing violence against protesters in Syria.
French officials said five European Union countries are summoning the Syrian ambassadors as part of an EU effort to quell the Syrian crackdown.
The Reuters news agency reports that EU officials will discuss on Friday the possibility of imposing economic sanctions on Syria.
The U.N. Human Rights Council announced it will hold a special session about Syria on Friday in an effort to persuade President Bashar al-Assad to end his assault on civilians.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an independent inquiry into the violence on Tuesday. He condemned the use of tanks and live fire that have killed and injured hundreds.
Truckloads of Syrian troops deployed early Wednesday in the Damascus suburb of Douma and the coastal city of Banias, while soldiers bolstered their positions in the flashpoint town of Daraa.
More than 400 people have been killed since pro-democracy protests erupted last month. The Syrian rights organization Sawasiah says at least 500 people have been arrested.
Syrian opposition figures have urged President Assad to ensure a transition to democracy as demanded by protesters.
In a statement Wednesday, the activists said either the president will lead the transition period or the country will go through a "massive grassroots revolution" that will break down the regime.
President Assad last week ended the country's 48-year-old emergency law, a key demand of protesters, and abolished a state security court. But the government then took other steps to crush demonstrations.
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