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Dozens of People Are Reported Bound and Shot in Syria Dozens of People Are Reported Bound and Shot in Syria
(about 1 hour later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — An activist group with opposition contacts in Syria said on Tuesday that the muddied bodies of scores of people, most of them men in their 20s and 30s, had been found in a suburb of the northern city of Aleppo. Video posted by opponents of President Bashar al-Assad seemed to show that many had been shot in the back of the head while their hands were bound. BEIRUT, Lebanon — Muddied and waterlogged bodies of scores of people, most of them men in their 20s and 30s, have been found in a suburb of Syria’s contested northern city of Aleppo, activists and insurgent fighters reported Tuesday. Videos posted by opponents of President Bashar al-Assad seemed to show that many had been shot in the back of the head while their hands were bound.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist organization based in Britain with a network of contacts in Syria, said at least 50 bodies had been located, some scattered along the banks of a small river in the Bustan al-Kaser neighborhood, which is mostly under rebel control. Later reports put the tally at 80. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist organization based in Britain with a network of contacts in Syria, said at least 50 bodies had been located, some scattered along the banks of a small river in the Bustan al-Kaser neighborhood, which is mostly under rebel control. Later reports put the tally much higher.
“This is another new massacre that has been committed in Syria, adding to the constant massacres that have been occurring, while the world watches silently and the international and Arab community are being hypocrites,” the Syrian Observatory said in statement. Al Jazeera quoted a commander from the insurgent Free Syrian Army, identified as Capt. Abu Sada, as saying there could be more than 100 bodies, with many still submerged in the river’s murky water. The commander was quoted as saying that all the victims had been “executed by the regime.”
The video emerged as the United Nations reported a fresh upsurge in the number of refugees known officially to have fled Syria, increasing the total in neighboring countries to more than 700,000 from 500,000 in December. The videos emerged as the United Nations reported a fresh upsurge in the number of refugees known officially to have fled Syria, increasing the total in neighboring countries to more than 700,000 from 500,000 in December.
At the same time, rebel fighters seeking Mr. Assad’s overthrow appeared to have made advances in the east of the country, raiding a security office in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour, where government forces have seemed to reduce their presence to concentrate on the center, giving rebels more freedom to maneuver and in some cases siphon fuel from gas and oil fields there.At the same time, rebel fighters seeking Mr. Assad’s overthrow appeared to have made advances in the east of the country, raiding a security office in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour, where government forces have seemed to reduce their presence to concentrate on the center, giving rebels more freedom to maneuver and in some cases siphon fuel from gas and oil fields there.
Activists said the insurgents in Deir al-Zour included Islamist fighters from the Al Nusra Front, which the United States regards as a terrorist organization. The rebels freed 11 detainees and captured a tank and three armed personnel carriers, according to the Local Coordination Committees, an anti-Assad activist network in Syria.Activists said the insurgents in Deir al-Zour included Islamist fighters from the Al Nusra Front, which the United States regards as a terrorist organization. The rebels freed 11 detainees and captured a tank and three armed personnel carriers, according to the Local Coordination Committees, an anti-Assad activist network in Syria.
In Aleppo, Syria’s most populous city where rebels and government forces are locked in a contest for control, video on YouTube — which was not independently verifiable — showed the shadow of a cameraman moving from one corpse to the next, briefly halting at each. Many appeared to have their hands bound behind their backs. Another video showed five bodies jammed into what looked like a metal container or the back of a small truck with more corpses lined up on the street outside and yet more on the flatbed of a pickup.In Aleppo, Syria’s most populous city where rebels and government forces are locked in a contest for control, video on YouTube — which was not independently verifiable — showed the shadow of a cameraman moving from one corpse to the next, briefly halting at each. Many appeared to have their hands bound behind their backs. Another video showed five bodies jammed into what looked like a metal container or the back of a small truck with more corpses lined up on the street outside and yet more on the flatbed of a pickup.
Video posted later showed what seemed to be another set of corpses, some of them older men with their arms bound in front of them. The wounds shown in the footage suggested that they had been shot in the temple or the chest.Video posted later showed what seemed to be another set of corpses, some of them older men with their arms bound in front of them. The wounds shown in the footage suggested that they had been shot in the temple or the chest.
Crowds of civilians milled around, some wearing blue surgical gloves.Crowds of civilians milled around, some wearing blue surgical gloves.
It was not clear when the men had died or who they were. One man said the killers had chosen their victims because they were Sunni Muslims.It was not clear when the men had died or who they were. One man said the killers had chosen their victims because they were Sunni Muslims.
The SANA state news agency made no immediate reference to the apparent mass killings.The SANA state news agency made no immediate reference to the apparent mass killings.
The Syria conflict began in March 2011 as a peaceful protest but has since spiraled into civil war.The Syria conflict began in March 2011 as a peaceful protest but has since spiraled into civil war.
In Geneva, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said on Tuesday that there had been an “unrelenting flow of refugees” across Syria’s borders, principally into Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey.In Geneva, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said on Tuesday that there had been an “unrelenting flow of refugees” across Syria’s borders, principally into Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey.
The highest numbers were in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon but smaller numbers had been registered in Egypt and North Africa, said Sybella Wilkes, a spokeswoman for the refugee agency.The highest numbers were in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon but smaller numbers had been registered in Egypt and North Africa, said Sybella Wilkes, a spokeswoman for the refugee agency.
The total now exceeds 700,000, made up of around 580,000 registered and the rest waiting to be registered as refugees. The spurt in refugees meant that 200,000 have fled in less than two months since early December when the total was around 500,000.The total now exceeds 700,000, made up of around 580,000 registered and the rest waiting to be registered as refugees. The spurt in refugees meant that 200,000 have fled in less than two months since early December when the total was around 500,000.
“We are trying to clear a backlog of people because the numbers have gone up so dramatically,” in Jordan and Lebanon particularly, Ms. Wilkes said.“We are trying to clear a backlog of people because the numbers have gone up so dramatically,” in Jordan and Lebanon particularly, Ms. Wilkes said.
The fighting has long ceased to be a straight contest between government and rebel forces. In the northern town of Ras al-Ain on the border with Turkey, rebels have fought Kurds. and in Deir al-Zour, rivalries among the groups claiming to have overrun the security office showed the contest between them to attract arms and recruits.The fighting has long ceased to be a straight contest between government and rebel forces. In the northern town of Ras al-Ain on the border with Turkey, rebels have fought Kurds. and in Deir al-Zour, rivalries among the groups claiming to have overrun the security office showed the contest between them to attract arms and recruits.
Omar Abu Layla, an activist documenting the fighting, said local and Al Nusra groups had joined in the fighting.Omar Abu Layla, an activist documenting the fighting, said local and Al Nusra groups had joined in the fighting.
“Al Nusra are good in suicide attacks, but our battalions are better than them at storming,” he said.“Al Nusra are good in suicide attacks, but our battalions are better than them at storming,” he said.
In the central city of Homs, meanwhile, the toll of the fighting among the dwindling number of inhabitants seemed evident on Tuesday as government forces launched a rocket attack on the Jouret al-Shiyah neighborhood.In the central city of Homs, meanwhile, the toll of the fighting among the dwindling number of inhabitants seemed evident on Tuesday as government forces launched a rocket attack on the Jouret al-Shiyah neighborhood.
“Mercy, dear God, Mercy. I don’t know what’s going on. I feel that they’re shelling right above us,” said Um Abdo, a resident in her fifties. “I feel that the whole world is shaking. The shelling is so heavy and so close. Pray for us please. I swear we are drained and exhausted.”“Mercy, dear God, Mercy. I don’t know what’s going on. I feel that they’re shelling right above us,” said Um Abdo, a resident in her fifties. “I feel that the whole world is shaking. The shelling is so heavy and so close. Pray for us please. I swear we are drained and exhausted.”

Hania Mourtada reported from Beirut and Alan Cowell from London. Hala Droubi contributed from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Anne Barnard and Hwaida Saad from Beirut.

Violence also flared on Tuesday in central Damascus, where a car bomb exploded and severely injured a member of parliament, Abed al-Razaq Katan, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. State media did not immediately report the explosion.
In Washington, President Obama announced that the United States would donate a further $155 million to aid Syrian refugees, bringing the total pledged by the United States as humanitarian aid to $365 million. But that is a fraction of the $1.5 billion that the United Nations says is needed over the next six months as it issues urgent appeals for more international funding.
“I want to speak directly to the people of Syria,” Mr. Obama said in a video posted on YouTube and subtitled in Arabic.
"This new aid will mean more warm clothing for children and medicine for the elderly, flour and wheat for your families and blankets, boots and stoves for those huddled in damaged buildings," he said. "Even as we work to end the violence against you, this aid will help address some of the immediate needs you face each day."
The United States, while voicing support for the Syrian opposition, has so far refused to provide weapons to the rebels, who say they need heavy weapons and antiaircraft missiles to to prevail.

Hania Mourtada reported from Beirut and Alan Cowell from London. Reporting was contributed by Hala Droubi from Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Anne Barnard and Hwaida Saad from Beirut; and Rick Gladstone from New York.