Updated on
Summary A human rights group has said it has evidence that Syrian troops are using cluster bombs.
Steve Goose of U.S.-based Human Right Watch said cluster bombs have been comprehensively banned by most nations, and Syria should immediately stop all use of these indiscriminate weapons that continue to kill and maim for years.HRW had previously reported cluster bomb remnants found in Homs and nearby Hama this summer.Syrias disregard for its civilian population is all too evident in its air campaign, which now apparently includes dropping these deadly cluster bombs into populated areas, said Goose, who is HRWs arms director. Syrian government officials had no immediate comment.There were also new signs of the mounting tensions between Turkey and Syria, two former allies who have become bitter foes since the outbreak of the 19-month-old rebellion against President Bashar Assad. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced that Turkey is barring Syrian civilian flights from Turkeys airspace, a day after Syria issued such a ban for Turkish commercial aircraft. Davutoglu said Syria is abusing civilian flights by using them to transport military equipment.Last week, Turkey forced a Syrian plane coming from Russia to land and confiscated what it said was military equipment on board. Russia said the plane was carrying spare radar parts, while Syria accused Turkey of piracy.After a week of exchanges of fire across the volatile border, a Turkish newspaper reported that Turkey has reinforced four naval bases along its Mediterranean coast north of Syria. In an unattributed report, the Hurriyet daily said Turkey sent frigates with cannons, as well as anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles to the naval bases.
