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Syrian Civilians 'Killed In Tank Attack'

Syria: Government Tanks Resume Attack On Hama

Syrian forces have killed at least 80 civilians in a major tank assault on the city of Hama to crush pro-democracy demonstrations, according to activists.

The assault prompted opposition gunmen to fire machine guns and set police stations on fire.

Witnesses reported there were 51 wounded people at one hospital alone, and the facility was running short of blood for transfusions.

Tanks had also surrounded another main hospital, al Horani, one witness added.

A doctor who did not want to be named for fear of arrest said: "Tanks are attacking from four directions.

"They are firing their heavy machine guns randomly and overrunning makeshift road blocks erected by the inhabitants."

Another resident said snipers had climbed onto the roofs of the state-owned electricity company and the main prison.

There were also claims soldiers threw nail bombs at anti-government protesters in a suburb of of the capital Damascus.

US President Barack Obama said in a statement he was "appalled by the use of violence and brutality" against the Syrian people.

"The reports out of Hama are horrifying and demonstrate the true character of the Syrian regime," he said.

"Once again, President Assad has shown that he is completely incapable and unwilling to respond to the legitimate grievances of the Syrian people.

"His use of torture, corruption and terror puts him on the wrong side of history and his people."

Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the "shocking" raids and said there was "no justification" behind them.

He also called on President Bashar al Assad to "stop this assault on his own people".

"I am appalled by the reports that the Syrian security forces have stormed Hama with tanks and other heavy weapons this morning killing dozens of people," he said.

"The attacks are all the more shocking on the eve of the Muslim holy month."

Meanwhile, in the Syrian capital of Damascus, at least 42 people were reportedly injured after Syrian forces threw nail bombs at a demonstration, residents said.

President Assad is attempting to crush an uprising against his 11-year rule that broke out in March.

The uprising was inspired by Arab Spring revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, and has spread across the country.

Syrian authorities have expelled most independent journalists, making it difficult to verify reports of fighting.

The Syrian leadership blames "armed terrorist groups" for most killings during the revolt, saying that more than 500 soldiers and security personnel have been killed.

An activist group, Avaaz, said in a report last week that Syrian security forces had killed 1,634 people in the course of their crackdown.

At least 2,918 had disappeared while another 26,000 had been arrested, many of whom were beaten and tortured, Avaaz said.

The government fears that the fasting month of Ramadan will spur more widespread protests.

The city of Hama has a bloody history in Syria. In 1982, President Hafez Assad, Bashar's father, sent his forces to crush an Islamic uprising.

There was a massacre that left as many as 30,000 people dead.