Syrian tanks launch Hama assault

BBC News - Syrian unrest: 'Many deaths' as army attacks Hama BBC

Accessibility links

Skip to content Skip to local navigation Skip to bbc.co.uk navigation Skip to bbc.co.uk search Help Accessibility Help World Home UK Africa Asia-Pac Europe Latin America Mid-East South Asia US & Canada Business Health Sci/Environment Tech Entertainment Video 31 July 2011Last updated at 07:45 GMT Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print Syrian unrest: 'Many deaths' as army attacks Hama Hama has seen some of the biggest protests yet Continue reading the main story Syria Crisis 'Wait and see' for Syria protests Refugees' stories Guide: Syria Crisis Dissidents unity The Syrian army has begun an assault on the city of Hama in northern Syria, with residents saying that dozens of people have been killed.

Hama has been in a state of revolt and virtually besieged for the past month.

Locals said more than 20 people were killed in "intense gunfire" after forces moved in from several sides.

The army is signalling that it will not tolerate large-scale unrest ahead of the month of Ramadan, when protests are expected to grow, correspondents say.

Syria has seen more than four months of protests against the authoritarian four-decade rule of President Bashar al-Assad's Baath party.

Centre of protests

According to activists on the ground, troops and tanks began their multi-pronged assault at dawn, smashing through hundreds of barricades erected by locals to reach the centre of Hama.

"[Tanks] are firing their heavy machineguns randomly and overrunning makeshift road blocks," a doctor in Hama told Reuters by phone, with machinegun fire in the background.

He said the death toll was rising rapidly, putting the latest estimate at 24. Three of the city's hospitals had received 19, three and two dead bodies respectively, he added.

Residents of northern Hama told Reuters that tank shells were falling at the rate of four a minute there. They also confirmed deaths in the area.

Electricity and water supplies had been cut, they said, in a tactic regularly used by the military when storming towns to crush protests.

Security forces snipers were reported to have taken up positions on high buildings, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut in neighbouring Lebanon.

One local activist said that five tanks had been abandoned by their crews in two parts of town, and that protesters had attacked and burnt down three police stations, our correspondent says.

Continue reading the main storySignificance of Hama

Hama - a bastion of dissidence - occupies a significant place in the history of modern Syria. In 1982, then-President Hafez al-Assad, father of Bashar, sent in troops to quell an uprising by the Sunni opposition Muslim Brotherhood. Tens of thousands were killed and the town flattened. The operation was led by the president's brother, Rifaat.

Similarly, current President Bashar Assad has turned to his own brother, Maher, who commands the army's elite Fourth Division, to deal with the unrest.

Hama, with a population 800,000, has seen some of the biggest protests and worst violence in Syria's 2011 uprising. It was slow to join in, but has now become one of the main focuses of the revolt, and is largely out of government control.

Earlier this month, the US and French ambassadors broke protocol and staged solidarity visits to the city. The Turkish Prime Minister, Recip Tayyip Erdogan has said there must not be "another Hama", meaning, another massacre.

Mass arrests The government blames armed Islamist gangs for the unrest, but correspondents say the protests appear largely peaceful, with only isolated cases of residents arming themselves against the military assault.

Most foreign media is banned from the country, making it difficult to verify reports.

Hama was the scene of the suppression of an uprising against President Assad's father in 1982. The city has seen some of the biggest demonstrations of the recent unrest.

Activists say more than 1,500 civilians and 350 security personnel have been killed across Syria since protests began in mid-March. More than 12,600 have been arrested and 3,000 others are missing.

The protests show no sign of letting up despite a government crackdown that has brought international condemnation and sanctions.

On Saturday, troops shot dead three people who threw stones at a military convoy sent to quash unrest in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Spokesman Rami Abdel Rahman said about 60 military vehicles, including tanks, personnel carriers and trucks crammed with soldiers deployed in the key oil hub, which has seen near daily protests.

A total of 20 people were killed and 35 wounded on Friday as hundreds of thousands of protested in cities across Syria, rights groups said.

More than 500 people were arrested in a single operation in the Qadam neighbourhood of the capital Damascus, they added.

#ss-syria_beginners_guide{border:1px solid #bdbdbd;}#ss-syria_beginners_guide {width: 464px;}Syria's anti-government protests, inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, first erupted in mid-March after the arrest of a group of teenagers who spray-painted a revolutionary slogan on a wall. The protests soon spread, and human rights activists and opposition groups say 1,700 people have died in the turmoil, while thousands more have been injured.Although the arrest of the teenagers in the southern city of Deraa first prompted people to take to the streets, unrest has since spread to other areas, including Hama, Homs, Latakia, Jisr al-Shughour and Baniyas. Demonstrators are demanding greater freedom, an end to corruption, and, increasingly, the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.President Assad's government has responded to the protests with overwhelming military force, sending tanks and troops into at least nine towns and cities. In Deraa and Homs - where protests have persisted ? amateur video footage shows tanks firing on unarmed protesters, while snipers have been seen shooting at residents venturing outside their homes.Some of the bloodiest events have taken place in the northern town of Jisr al-Shughour. In early June, officials claimed 120 security personnel were killed by armed gangs, however protesters said the dead were shot by troops for refusing to kill demonstrators. As the military moved to take control of the town, thousands fled to neighbouring Turkey, taking refuge in camps. Although the major cities of Damascus and Aleppo have seen pockets of unrest and some protests, it has not been widespread - due partly to a heavy security presence. There have been rallies in the capital - one with an enormous Syrian flag - in support of President Assad, who still receives the backing of many in Syria's middle class, business elite and minority groups.The Assad family has been in power for 40 years, with Bashar al-Assad inheriting office in 2000. The president has opened up the economy, but has continued to jail critics and control the media. He is from the minority Alawite sect - an offshoot of Shia Islam ? but the country's 20 million people are mainly Sunni. The biggest protests have been in Sunni-majority areas.Although the US and EU have condemned the violence and imposed sanctions, the UN Security Council has been unable to agree on a response. Some fear the country could descend into civil war if the government collapsed, while others believe chaos in Syria ? with its strategic location and its web of regional alliances - could destabilise the entire Middle East. BACK{current} of {total}NEXT  More on This Story Syria Crisis Features and analysis'Wait and see' for Syria protests

Syria's regime could be changing tactics with the threat of capture now the greatest fear among protesters, according to the personal account of one political analyst in the country.

Refugees' stories Guide: Syria CrisisDissidents unityHiding with protestersProtest footage mappedInvestigating Jisr al-Shughour Too little, too late?Damascus reacts to speechDodging Syrian patrolsDivided DamascusNo man's land on borderTurkey's Syrian dilemmaRuling family dynamicsProtest leaders ProfilesProfile: Bashar al-AssadCountry profile: SyriaPresident's inner circleProtest hotbed: Deraa Around the webBBC Arabic websiteRevolution 2011 on FacebookSyrian state news agency SanaHuman Rights Observatory (Arabic) From other news sites TheStar.com.my Syrian tanks storm Hama city, 24 dead - doctor 36 mins ago ABC Online Dozens killed as Syrian tanks storm Hama 45 mins ago Telegraph Syria: at least 24 dead as army attacks Hama 1 hr ago Yahoo! UK and Ireland Syrian tanks storm Hama, 24 dead - doctor 1 hr ago France24 SYRIA: Syrian tanks storm restive Hama in deadly crackdown 2 hrs ago About these results Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print More World stories RSSUS parties hopeful for debt deal

Democrats and Republicans express cautious optimism about the chances of raising the US debt limit by Tuesday, as White House talks continue.

Iran man 'pardoned' from blindingAfghan suicide attack 'kills 11' Top Stories Iran man 'pardoned' from blinding US parties hopeful for debt deal Afghan suicide attack 'kills 11' Eight die in China street attack Five drown in Moscow boat sinking Features & AnalysisIn pictures

Latest UK royal wedding as Zara Phillips marries in Edinburgh

Job done?

Has Lumley campaign really helped Gurkha veterans?

Why Mladic didn't shoot

Neighbour's insight into moment massive manhunt came to an end

Fractured front

General's death bodes ill for Libyan rebel unity

Most PopularShared 1: Chimpanzee babysits tiger cubs 2: DVT linked to video gamer's death 3: Apple holding more cash than USA 4: In pictures: Cloud spotting 5: 'World's best restaurant' closes Read 1: Iran man 'pardoned' from blinding 2: In pictures: Zara Phillips wedding 3: 'World's best restaurant' closes 4: Syrian army begins Hama assault 5: US Republicans hope for debt deal 6: Deadly attack in China's Xinjiang 7: Button hoax story taken off site 8: Why Ratko Mladic didn't shoot 9: DVT linked to video gamer's death 10: Oslo killer 'had other targets' Video/Audio 1: Chimpanzee babysits tiger cubs Watch 2: Reproduce yourself with a 3D printer Watch 3: Royal Family attend Zara Phillips' wedding Watch 4: Newlyweds and guests leave church Watch 5: One-minute World News Watch 6: Zara Phillips marries in Scotland Watch 7: Children guide newspaper to success Watch 8: Retracing Grapes of Wrath route Watch 9: Gamer's death blamed on DVT Watch 10: Blondie drummer made 'Doctor of Rock' Watch Elsewhere on the BBCGet lost

BBC Travel wanders through six great cities without a map or a destination in mind

ProgrammesClick Watch

A guide to some of the extraordinary objects being created by 3D printers

Services  News feeds  Mobile  Podcasts  Alerts  E-mail news About BBC News Editors' blog BBC College of Journalism News sources World Service Trust Mobile

Search term:

bbc.co.uk navigation News Sport Weather Travel TV Radio More CBBC CBeebies Comedy Food Health History Learning Music Science Nature Local Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Full A-Z of BBC sites BBC links About the BBC BBC Help Contact Us Accessibility Help Terms of Use Careers Privacy & Cookies Advertise With Us

BBC © 2011 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.

View the original article here

Ahmad 'assault' police not guilty

3 June 2011 Last updated at 15:25 GMT Colin Reynolds, solicitor acting for officers: "They are looking forward to returning to work"

Four police officers accused of beating up a terror suspect have all been found not guilty at Southwark Crown Court.

A jury acquitted Pc Roderick James-Bowen, 40, Pc Mark Jones, 43, Pc Nigel Cowley, 34, and Det Con John Donohue, 37, of assaulting Babar Ahmad.

Mr Ahmad, 37, was arrested at his home in Tooting, south London, in December 2003 on suspicion of leading a group which supported al-Qaeda.

Mr Ahmad was never charged in relation to his arrest but is in custody.

He is awaiting extradition to the US for alleged terrorism offences.

Mr Ahmad said he feared he would die in the early morning Metropolitan Police raid.

But jurors rejected claims that the officers attacked him, taking less than an hour to reach their decision.

The BBC understands some members of the jury later asked to meet the officers to shake their hands, correspondent Ben Ando reported.

Secret recordings

Speaking after the verdicts, the officers' solicitor Colin Reynolds said secret recordings from a listening device planted in Mr Ahmad's home, which emerged in evidence, corroborated his clients' accounts.

Continue reading the main story

They are hoping that they will be able to put these unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations behind them”

End Quote Colin Reynolds Solicitor "It was only weeks before this trial commenced that the prosecution then disclosed that a listening device had been planted in the home address of Babar Ahmad some time before his arrest in December 2003," he said.

"Many hours were spent analysing what could be heard as a result of that probe before and during the trial and that evidence proved the account originally given by these officers was correct and specific details of the complaint made by Mr Ahmad were not present."

Asked why the Met paid out ?60,000 to Mr Ahmad in a civil case when the force admitted liability, he said: "That's a matter for the Commissioner and his lawyers."

Mr Reynolds also spoke of the men's relief at the verdicts and said they were "looking forward to getting on with their professional lives".

"The officers look forward to returning to work and... serving the public within the MPS and they are hoping that they will be able to put these unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations behind them now."

After the not guilty verdicts were returned, Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC said he hoped what he described as Mr Ahmad's "ordeal" would come to an end as quickly as possible, either by his extradition to the US or his release.

He said Mr Ahmad had been detained in the UK for a number of years and it was a matter of concern.

Mr Ahmad claims the officers, then all constables in the Met's Territorial Support Group (TSG), beat him repeatedly, swore at him, mocked his Islamic faith and humiliated him by touching his genitals in an assault that began at his house and continued in a police van and at a police station.

CCTV showed Babar Ahmad's arrest

He alleged that one officer grabbed his throat and cut off his breathing.

Mr Ahmad told the court: "He kept squeezing to the point where I thought, 'This guy is going to kill me. He wants to kill me. I am going to die in the back of this van'."

But the officers said his injuries were either self-inflicted or caused by a legal tackle that took him to the ground when he was first detained.

Pc James-Bowen told the court he had a "ferocious" struggle with martial arts expert Mr Ahmad in which he used "significant force", but rejected accusations that he and his colleagues beat him up.

Resistance feared

The four officers involved in the raid had been told by senior officers to arrest Mr Ahmad.

The four-week trial heard that the suspect's arrest came 11 months after DC Stephen Oake was murdered in Crumpsall, Manchester, by terror suspect Kamel Bourgass.

Police chiefs briefed the arresting officers that Mr Ahmad was to be considered as dangerous as Bourgass and said they feared he would resist, the jury heard.

Continue reading the main story

The issues that have arisen out of the arrest have now been ongoing for a long time”

End Quote Acting Commander Carl Bussey Metropolitan Police Pc Jones told the court he and the other officers in his unit were told by their sergeant before the operation that the suspect had been trained by al-Qaeda in armed and unarmed combat.

Mr Ahmad was believed to be the leader of an al-Qaeda-linked cell that acted as a conduit to terrorism overseas, providing recruits and logistical support.

In evidence during the trial, Mr Ahmad confirmed that he travelled to Bosnia three or four times to fight during the 1992/95 war, but insisted he was not an "al-Qaeda superman".

Misconduct review

The Metropolitan Police Authority is set to publish an investigation into the incident.

In a statement, the Met Police said the court had heard evidence that did not support Mr Ahmad's account of events following his arrest.

Acting Commander Carl Bussey, head of the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards, said: "The issues that have arisen out of the arrest have now been ongoing for a long time and undoubtedly this will have been a difficult seven years for all involved.

"Given the result I will now ensure a misconduct review is conducted immediately so that the officers can be given a decision as soon as possible and this matter finally brought to a conclusion."

The Metropolitan Police later said three of the officers would remain on restricted duties pending a decision on whether they should face a misconduct hearing.

The fourth officer, Pc Mark Jones, is currently suspended on an unrelated matter.

Mr Ahmad's lawyer, Fiona Murphy, said: "The criminal proceedings have taken their course and the jury has returned its verdict".

"We now call upon the IPCC to put its abject failures in relation to this case to one side and to give proper consideration to the misconduct aspects."

View the original article here