Syria orders thousands into stadium in Latakia crackdown

Syria orders thousands into stadium in Latakia crackdown

clipped from article:

Security forces began ordering residents of the area, which includes a refugee camp housing more than 10,000 Palestinians, to go to a soccer stadium ahead of what they described as a huge military operation, activists said. At least five people were confirmed dead.

"They were told they should leave their homes and go to stadiums because the armed forces were going to flatten the area," said an activist in the city, who asked that his name not be used. "Cellphone networks were cut as thousands of people left their houses and flocked toward the stadium. As they were gathered and directed to the stadium, their IDs were confiscated."

The latest developments are sure to heighten international concern over Syria. The United Nations agency responsible for overseeing Palestinian refugee camps in the Middle East said Monday that it was "gravely concerned" about the situation in Latakia and demanded unhindered access to the facility. [read more at link]