Syrian Activists Report Massacre Near Damascus

August 26, 2012

Activists in Syria say the bodies of at least 200 people have been found in a town close to Damascus.

Activists claim they were killed by government forces, with most killed at close range, including some women.

Opposition activists say that brings the death toll from a government offensive on Daraya to 270.

The official state news agency said: "Our heroic armed forces cleansed Daraya from remnants of armed terrorist groups."

Due to restrictions on the media, it was impossible to verify the account.

The opposition Syrian National Council on August 25 called on the United Nations and the Arab League to intervene to prevent a "catastrophe" in the besieged central province of Homs, which has been cut off by Syrian government forces for weeks.

Meanwhile, Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa has made his first public appearance since the middle of July, putting to rest rumors that he had defected and fled the country.

Journalists saw Sharaa get out of his car and walk to his office to meet with the visiting head of Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Alaeddin Borujerdi. He did not speak to reporters.

Sharaa was last seen on July 18 at a funeral for top officials killed in an explosion in Damascus.

Rumors spread that Sharaa had abandoned the Syrian government and fled to neighboring Jordan, something both Sharaa's office and Jordanian authorities denied.

Based on reporting by dpa, AFP, AP, and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/syria-massacre/24688168.html

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