Syrian troops killed 22 in Hama says rights group

Syrian troops killed at least 22 people in an assault on the flashpoint central city of Hama on Tuesday, according to human rights groups. 

Reuters/Khaled al-Hariri

The National Organisation for Human Rights also said troops wounded more than 80 people as they pushed through improvised roadblocks erected by residents after massive huge anti-government protests in the city.

The United States State Department urged the Syrian government to withdraw its troops from Hama and other cities.

A spokesperson said Washington was "very concerned about the ongoing attacks against peaceful demonstrators in Syria".

Meanwhile London-based watchdog Amnesty International accused the authorities of committing crimes against humanity in its crackdown on the protests which have rocked the country since mid-March.