16 Syrian soldiers killed in clashes with rebels

16 soldiers have been killed in fighting with rebels as the Syrian Army continues to step up its attacks on opposition controlled territories.

Reports about these latest clashes (from BBC News, Gulf News and Gulf Today respectively) quote the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who stated that these clashes take place at the end of "one of the bloodiest weeks," of the 15-month-long uprising against the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Mr. Rami Abdul Rahman has also stated that "now in Syria, it has become normal to have 100 killed each day." During these latest clashes the Observatory have stated that 77 civilians have died during military attacks on the rebel held territories. It is estimated by the Observatory that 644 people have been killed in Syria this week. Rahman blames the escalation, and the increase in deaths, in the country on the inability on behalf of the U.N. and the international community to resolve the crisis, and put forth an effective peace plan. Mr. Rahman has showed his frustration with regard to the suspension of U.N. activity in the country, when he advised them to "either go out and observe properly or leave." It is estimated that about 15,000 people most of them civilians have been killed in this 15 month long uprising.