More reports of Christians being murdered in Homs
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Attacks on Syria Christian towns 'kill 11'
The Australian
17 AUGUST, 2013
GUNMEN have shot dead 11 people, mostly Christians, in central Syria, the state-run news agency and opposition activists say.
The SANA news agency described it as a "massacre" but activists say that many of the dead were pro-government militiamen manning checkpoints.
The opposition Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said nine of those killed were Christians.
SANA said the attack occurred after midnight on Saturday on a road linking the Christian villages of Ein al-Ajouz and Nasrah in the central province of Homs.
Christians, who make up about 10 per cent of Syria's population, say they are particularly vulnerable to the violence sweeping the country of 22 million people.
Many rebels, who are mostly Sunnis, consider Christians to be supporters of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
A resident in the area told the Associated Press that the gunmen randomly opened fire on a street as Christians were celebrating a feast day.
He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
The witness said many of the dead were refugees from the central city of Homs, which witnessed heavy clashes between rebels and troops over the past two years.
Tens of thousands of Christians left downtown districts in Syria's third largest city because of the fighting.
Responding to the news, ODFS Director, Ribal Al-Assad said:
"I am appalled to hear of yet more news of Christians being killed by the Rebel forces, how many more people need to die in Syria before something is done?
If we want to stop the wanton violence then no more weapons must enter the country; every day the beautiful mosaic of Syria crumbles further as the Islamist rebels murder on religious and sectarian lines.
I appeal for the international community to act."