Syrian crackdown leaves at least 11 dead, opposition claims

At least 11 people have been killed in Syria as a major Muslim holiday began to the sound of explosions and gunfire, residents and activists said.

The violence on the first day of Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice, added to fears that a peace plan brokered by the Arab League last week was unravelling.

Activists said government forces killed at least nine people on Sunday in the central Homs province, which has turned into one of the main centres of protest and reprisal during the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

Qatar's prime minister has called for an emergency meeting to discuss the Syrian government's failure to abide by its commitments.

Egypt's official news agency MENA reported that Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabr Al Thani called for the meeting "in light of the continuing acts of violence and the Syrian government's noncompliance" with the Arab plan.

Violence has continued unabated, although Damascus agreed to halt its crackdown on the seven-month uprising that the UN says has left around 3,000 people dead.

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