Beirut, Jan 21 (AFP) A Syrian government bombardmentkilled 16 civilians across the besieged opposition enclave ofEastern Ghouta, a monitor group said.
Eastern Ghouta has been under government siege since 2013and its estimated 400,000 inhabitants are suffering severeshortages of food and medicine.
Yesterday, a barrage of Syrian artillery fire hit amarket in the main Eastern Ghouta town of Douma, according tothe Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
"Nine people were killed, including a woman," theBritish-based war monitor said.
Another six civilians were killed in artillery fire onthe towns of Hammuriyeh, Arbeen and al-Marj. Syrian airstrikes killed a child in the town of Zamalka.
The United Nations has said some 500 people are incritical condition inside Eastern Ghouta and need to beevacuated for urgent medical treatment.
Twenty-nine patients, mainly children, were allowed outin December to get treatment under a deal struck between theregime and rebels, but several have already returned.
Eastern Ghouta was one of four "de-escalation zones"agreed under a deal agreed last year between rebel backerTurkey and regime allies Iran and Russia.
But the opposition stronghold remains the target ofintense air strikes and a crippling government siege.
Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with protestsagainst the government but has since evolved into a ferociouscivil war. (AFP)AJR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.