The death toll in Syria’s violent crackdown on opposition to President Bashar al-Assad in Hama and elsewhere climbed on Tuesday, spurring Western efforts to pile diplomatic pressure on Damascus.
Three more civilians were killed in Hama, including two brothers, Khaled and Fateh Kanil, who died when pro-Assad “shabbiha” militiamen fired at their food-laden car, said two residents.
They said a brief riot appeared to have broken out late on Monday at Hama’s main prison.
Two shabbiha militia buses were seen heading there at night and smoke rose from the compound as the militiamen shouted “God, Syria, Bashar, only” from inside.
“There is damage to the northern section of the jail. Burned bodies of prisoners were taken out of the complex,” one of the residents said.
