Syrian forces continue anti-gov't crackdown

Syrian forces pressed on with their eight-month crackdown on anti-government demonstrations despite President Bashar al-Assad's accepting an Arab League plan for ending the violence and freeing detainees.

At least 16 people were killed Thursday when security forces fired on protesters using tank and machine-gun fire, a human-rights activist said. Most of the violence took place in the Bab Amro district of the city of Homs, said the activist, who declined to be identified for fear of retribution. At least 24 were killed the day before, Al Arabiya television said.

Arab League officials urged the immediate implementation of the plan, announced Wednesday in Cairo by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim Al Thani. It calls for the cessation of "all violence from any sources to protect Syrian citizens," the release of people held during protests, and clearing cities and neighborhoods of "all military displays."

More than 4,000 demonstrators have been killed during the protests against Assad's rule, according to Ammar Qurabi of the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria. The unrest was inspired by uprisings that toppled the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt this year. Assad has blamed the fighting in Syria on Islamic militants and foreign provocateurs, and sent security forces to crush the demonstrations.

Syria's agreement with the Arab initiative should be met with skepticism because the government has shown no sign of interest in dialogue or a cease-fire, said Chris Phillips, an analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit in London.

"Their past record suggests their main interest is just about buying time and placating external criticism rather than a newfound commitment to dialogue and solving the crisis," Phillips said. "If the regime is saying they are interested in dialogue and willing to cooperate, the onus then falls on the opposition."