Syrian Army Attacks Hama

 unverified footage appears to show tanks on the streets of Hama

The UN Security Council has condemned the Syrian government for its deadly crackdown on protesters. It is the first clear condemnation issued by the Security Council, which includes longstanding allies of Syria such as Russia. The statement was adopted over the fears of some members that any action could lead to Libya-style intervention.

It comes as the Syrian army attacks Hama, a centre of opposition protest, with reports of much loss of life. Dozens of people are believed to have been killed in the action against Hama, with residents saying tanks have now shot their way into Assi (Orontes) Square, in the centre of the city of 800,000 people. Human rights groups say at least 140 people have been killed in the Syrian unrest since Sunday, mainly in Hama, adding to a civilian death toll believed to be more than 1,600 since March.

Protesters have vowed to rally every evening during the holy month of Ramadan, after nightly prayers. Late on Wednesday, there were reports of large demonstrations in several Syrian cities. Activists told AFP news agency that 50,000 people demonstrated in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour, 20,000 in Duma, north of Damascus, and 40,000 in Homs. At least four people were killed when troops fired on protesters in Damascus, near the southern city of Deraa, and in the central town of Palmyra.

UN Security Council statement:

The Security Council reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Syria” In Wednesday's statement, the council says it "condemns the widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities". It says those responsible for the violence should be held accountable.
European members of the 15-nation council had pushed for a strong resolution condemning the Syrian government and calling for a rights inquiry. The statement stressed that the only solution to the crisis was a Syrian-led political process, in effect ruling out outside intervention, says our UN correspondent. It also called for "an immediate end to all violence and urges all sides to act with utmost restraint, and to refrain from reprisals, including attacks against state institutions."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the statement represented "the clear message of the international community" to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "The world has watched the deteriorating situation in Syria with the most profound concern. But the events of the past few days have been brutally shocking," Mr Ban said. "Just continuing like this is not sustainable. He cannot and they cannot carry on like this, killing their people."

Anti-government protests began in March, inspired by the successful uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, and soon spread to many cities across the country. Mr Assad has promised reforms, but blames the violence on "armed criminal gangs" backed by unspecified foreign powers.
Access to events in Syria has been severely restricted for international journalists and it is rarely possible to verify accounts by witnesses and opposition activists.

Activists and residents of Hama said tanks pushed in to the city centre on Wednesday morning, reaching Assi Square. Earlier, reports spoke of columns of armoured vehicles heading towards the city from where the sound of shelling could be heard. One resident of the city told the BBC's Damascus correspondent, Lina Sinjab, that he believed a massacre was taking place. He said he had seen piles of bodies in different parts of the city. There are reports that families trying to flee the city have been shot at to force them to turn back.
Some families who have managed to leave have described the situation as worse than the 1980s, when the late President Hafez Assad, father of the current leader, crushed an uprising, leaving at least 10,000 people dead and the old quarter flattened.
Communication with the city is all but completely cut off, as are water and electricity, correspondents say.