The Syrian army is continuing to shell the eastern city of Deir al-Zour, after at least 50 citizens were killed by troops on 7 August.

Reports from activists in Syria said that gunfire and shelling restarted early on Monday morning. In addition to the fatalities in Deir al-Zour, 26 others were killed in Hula, near Homs.

In response to the government crackdown, Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador from Syria and Saudi Arabia’s ruler King Abdullah called the violence ‘’unacceptable’’. Kuwait and Bahrain also decided to recall their ambassadors.

On 5 August, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the Syrian government had killed at least 2,000 people since the anti-regime protests began at the end of January.