Dozens of people were killed when government forces shelled the town of Halfaya in central Syria, targeting a bakery, opposition activists reported on Sunday. A video posted online showed people running to the damaged building, moving the rubble from around dead bodies and carrying injured people away, while sirens were heard in the background. Last week, rebels announced they had seized the town. In August, Human Rights Watch criticized the government for targeting bakeries when local residents were waiting in line, describing them as "war crimes. " While the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said dozens were killed, the Local Coordination Committees put the deathtoll at 90. The LCC said the number was expected to rise due to the lack of medical supplies. News from Syria is difficult to verify as authorities have barred most foreign media from the country since a pro-democracy uprising started in March 2011.
