Oil pipeline attacked in Syria's restive Homs province

Oil pipeline attacked in Syria's restive Homs province

2011-12-10 04:02:00 GMT+7 (ICT)

HOMS, SYRIA (BNO NEWS) -- A pipeline carrying oil to a refinery in Syria's restive province of Homs was attacked by unidentified people on Thursday, state-run media and activists reported on Friday. There were no reports of casualties.

The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that an 'armed terrorist group' opened fire on a crude oil transfer pipeline in the al-Soltaniyeh area, which is to the northwest of the Refinery of Homs, reportedly causing a large fire. The damaged oil pipeline is used to transport oil from the northeastern city of Deir Ezzor to the northwestern city of Baniyas.

Activists, however, claimed the pipeline was bombed by forces loyal to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The Local Co-ordination Committees accused on its website that security forces and the regime's army deliberately destroyed the pipeline. It added that security forces arrested several students who were filming the smoke coming out of the oil pipe.

In July, SANA reported that 'subversive groups' attacked an oil pipeline near the western town of Tal Kalakh.

Meanwhile, activists reported more deaths on Thursday as violence continues to escalate in the Arab nation. The LCC said at least fourteen people were killed, including eleven people in Homs.

Last week, Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that Syria is on the verge of a full-fledged civil war as the death toll from the nine-month government crackdown against protesters has surpassed at least 4,000, including more than 300 children.

Pro-democracy demonstrations have spread across the country since mid-March, resulting in a fierce government crackdown. The Syrian government has claimed violent acts against protesters have been carried out by 'terrorists dressed as soldiers,' although international observers have rejected these claims.

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