Syria accused of crimes against humanity

BEIRUT -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accused the Syrian regime yesterday of committing "almost certain crimes against humanity" as activists reported fresh violence and the arrest of several prominent dissidents, including a U.S.-born blogger.

Speaking to reporters in Vienna, Ban demanded the Syrian regime stop using indiscriminate force against civilians caught up in fighting between government troops and President Bashar Assad's opponents.

Syrian activists said government forces attacked Daraa yesterday, carrying out arrests and shooting randomly in the city where the uprising against Assad erupted 11 months ago. They also reported intense clashes between army defectors and government troops in the central province of Hama.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops "committed a new massacre" near the northwestern town of Jisr al-Shughour, killing 19 people -- 11 from the same family.

The push into Daraa, 80 miles south of Damascus, followed sieges on the rebellious cities of Homs and Hama.

Also yesterday, the Local Coordination Committees, an umbrella group of activists, said that several activists had been arrested, including Razan Ghazzawi, a U.S.-born blogger and press freedom campaigner. -- AP