Syrian forces kill 40, protesters urge protection

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian forces shot dead at least 40 civilians on Friday when they fired on demonstrators demanding international protection from President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on pro-democracy protests, activists and residents said.

Tens of protesters were also wounded and hundreds arrested in one of the bloodiest days in seven months of protests demanding and end to 41 years of Assad family rule, prompting Arab ministers to send Assad their strongest message yet calling for an end to civilian killings.

The Arab League's committee on the Syrian crisis said on Friday it had sent an "urgent message … to the Syrian government expressing its severe discontent for the continued killing of Syrian civilians."

The committee said in a statement it had "expressed the hope that the Syrian government would take action to protect civilians."

Arab ministers are due to meet Syrian officials on Sunday in the Qatari capital of Doha.

Most of Friday's killings occurred in the central cities of Hama, where Assad sent tanks and troops to crush large demonstrations three months ago, and Homs, a centre of protests and an increasingly armed opposition to his autocratic rule.

"A no-fly zone is a legitimate demand for Homs," read banners carried by protesters in the Khalidiya neighbourhood.

NATO warplanes played a central role in the overthrow of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, but the Western alliance has shown no appetite to intervene in Syria to halt violence which the United Nations says has killed 3,000 people.

Anti-Gaddafi fighters return fire during clashes with Gaddafi forces in Sirte, October 11, 2011. NTC forces have captured Sirte's most important landmarks, including the Ouagadougou conference hall, where Gaddafi once hosted lavish summit meetings, the hospital and the university. Tuesday's fighting focused on Omar al-Mokhtar street, a tree-lined thoroughfare in a well-heeled neighbourhood. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

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Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama jokes with photographers during a news conference in Sao Paulo September 16, 2011. The Dalai Lama is on a three-day visit to Sao Paulo. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

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