Ancient market burns, heritage sites at risk as Syrian violence continues

[pampango]

1. "...authorities cut the water supply off the city, making it more difficult to put out the flames."

“It’s a disaster. The fire is threatening to spread to remaining shops,” said al-Halabi, speaking from the stricken area by telephone. He claimed Syrian authorities cut the water supply off the city, making it more difficult to put out the flames. He said rebels and civilians were working together to control the blaze with a limited number of fire extinguishers.

Regime shelling of neighborhoods where the opposition is holed up has smashed historic mosques, churches and souks in the central Homs province and elsewhere the country.

The Syrian uprising began in March 2011 with largely peaceful protests but has since transformed into an insurgency and civil war that has defied all attempts at a diplomatic solution. Activists say more than 30,000 people have been killed.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/activists-deadly-fighting-in-aleppos-historic-old-city-sets-fire-in-medieval-souks/2012/09/29/679f4978-0a12-11e2-9eea-333857f6a7bd_story.html