At least 45 killed in al-Hader

AMMAN: On Wednesday at least 45 civilians were killed on Wednesday in a tank assault by Syrian government troops to occupy the center of Hama.

In Al-Hader district north of the Orontes river, forty people were killed by heavy machinegun fire and shelling by tanks, said the activist, who gave his name as Thaer.

Residents said tanks advanced into central Hama on Wednesday and occupied the main square, the site of some of the largest protests against President Bashar al-Assad in a four-month uprising.