BEIRUT – An activist in Deir al-Zor says Syrian troops have taken control of the eastern flashpoint city following intense shelling and gunfire.
The activist, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the city's eastern Mattar Qadim neighborhood was the last to fall on Wednesday. The city has been under attack by President Bashar al-Assad's forces for four days.
The international community has stepped up pressure on Assad, with envoys from India, Brazil and South Africa due in Damascus on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Turkey's foreign minister urged Assad to end the killings. US officials say the Obama administration is preparing to explicitly demand his departure.
Rights groups say about 1700 people have been killed since March.
