Village becomes heart of rebellion against Syria violence still rising and expected still to spike | Democracy, elections and voting at Democracy Chronicles

44 die as Syria jets blast rebel-held town

AFP

Syrian fighter jets blasted the rebel-held town of Maaret al-Numan on Thursday, killing at least 44 people, rescuers said, adding urgency to truce calls by peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. Rescuers said bombs destroyed two residential buildings and a mosque, where many women and children were taking refuge as Syria village becomes heart of rebellion against Assad. They embrace differing philosophies and boast varying strengths but the five armed groups occupying Syria’s Atme village near the Turkish border are united in one common goal: overthrow of the regime. The farming village a stone’s throw from Syria’s northern frontier has been swelled by civilians displaced.

At least 28,000 ‘disappeared’ in Syria: NGO

At least 28,000 people have disappeared in Syria since the start of an anti-regime uprising 19 months ago, arrested by troops or pro-government militiamen, a global activist group said on Thursday. Avaaz said the forced disappearances was part of a “deliberate” campaign by the authorities.

Rubbish piles up as battle for Syrian city rages

Abu Mahmud loads trash into a turquoise truck in Aleppo, seemingly oblivious to shells smashing into nearby streets as he makes a small dent in the mounds of refuse piling up in the battleground city. With the battle for Syria’s one-time commercial hub now deep in its third month, trash collection is coming to an end.