135 Dead in Syrian Violence
One hundred and thirty five people were killed across Syria Monday, including 64 who died fleeing the central city on Homs, according to a Syrian activist group.
The deaths came on a day when Syrian officials announced that a new draft of the nation's constitution has been approved. The European Union has also imposed new sanctions on the country during this consistent clashing.
It is uncertain whether all 135 people died Monday or over the span of the last few days.
The 64 individuals killed at the security checkpoint in the Abil area were attepmting to flee shelling within the Homs neighborhood of Baha Amr.
The group reported that the deaths included three women, three children and four soldiers.
Under siege for almost four weeks, central Homs' destruction and blockade is making it hard for rescuers to get to the wounded and for families to bring their injured loved ones to the hospital.
The activist group, Local Coordination Committees, said that the increasingly violent death toll reflects the conflict revolving around President Bashar Assad's supression of Syrians demanding he step down.
Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar announced that about 89 percent of voters approved the draft constitution, and that 57 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. President Assad's regime has pushed the constitutional referendum as a move toward reform, CNN reports.
The government's efforts are still underway despite the heavy, brutal violence.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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