Syrian forces push into Douma, residents flee http://bit.ly/MgHnUe
Anti-government protesters demonstrate in Syria (AFP/Getty Images / June 30, 2012) |
Mariam Karouny and Oliver Holmes Reuters
11:18 a.m. CDT, June 30, 2012
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government forces pushed their way into Douma on Saturday after weeks of siege and shelling, and fleeing residents spoke of corpses in the streets of the town near the capital Damascus.
The residents said hundreds of people were fleeing the town as government forces swept the streets in search of rebels trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
They reported many bodies buried under the rubble of houses in the town of half a million people, 15 km (10 miles) from Damascus.
It was not possible to immediately verify the reports, on the day world powers met in Geneva to try to find a way to resolve the increasingly bloody conflict in Syria.
A local man who gave his name only as Abdullah said he and his five children left Douma on Saturday morning.
"I saw at least three bodies on a street corner, some houses were destroyed, others were on fire. Only a few people remained inside the city. Those who can, leave," the 50-year-old said by telephone from a nearby town.
"I saw a body on the side of the street and dogs were gathering around it, it was really horrible ... we are all living as refugees inside our country," he added.
Abdullah left in a convoy of 200 people from his neighborhood. He said eight people were packed into each car. They passed through four checkpoints where soldiers in "full gear" eyed their identity cards before allowing them through.
