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Syria: Barazi touts counterstrike against Isis in Palmyra

THE Syrian army was preparing a counter-attack yesterday to retake the ancient town of Palmyra from Islamic State (Isis).

Homs province governor Talal Barazi said Isis members had “committed mass massacres in the city” since they captured it on Wednesday.

He said militants took many civilians, including women, to unknown destinations.

“There are plans, but we don’t know when the zero hour is for a military act in Palmyra,” Mr Barazi said without elaborating.

He added that Syrian troops are fighting Isis gunmen in the nearby Jizl area.

Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi condemned what he called “a massacre” in Palmyra, blaming Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey for the reported killings of at least 280 innocent people.

He pointed to foreign suppotrt for rebel forces trying to remove President Bashar Assad from power.

Mr Halqi called on the international community and all humanitarian organisations to pressure the governments to stop supporting terrorism.

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