At least 86 Syrians killed in clashes in Damascus

ISTANBUL (A.A) - March 19, 2012 - At least 86 Syrians were killed in clashes and bomb attacks in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Monday. Eyewitnesses have said that 86 people were killed while 150 others were injured in clashes that took place near the Military Airport and Military Intelligence Center at the Mezze district of Damascus on Monday. Injured individuals were taken to a hospital at the Villat Garbiye town. According to the Syrian opposition, forces attached to the Syrian regular army have blocked all roads near the Mezze Military Airport since last night and that military helicopters were flying low over the city. The wave of "Arab Spring" reached Syria on March 15, 2011 and Syrian people started to protest the government in a small southern city. The government responded with heavy-handed force, and demonstrations quickly spread across much of the country. Thousands of people are reported to be killed in ongoing protests in Syria so far. Syria was expelled from the Arab League after it agreed to a peace plan only to step up attacks on protesters. In late 2011 and early 2012, Syria agreed to allow league observers into the country. But their presence did nothing to slow the violence. In February, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to approve a resolution condemning President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on the uprising, but China and Russia have blocked all efforts by the United Nations, the Arab League and others for a more forceful intervention. In November 2011, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu unveiled a list of nine sanctions on Syria.