Syrian Troops Kill Four Ahead Of Arab League Talks

Thousands of Syrians are estimated to have died since antiregime protests began in mid-March.

Activists say Syrian forces have shot dead at least four civilians in the latest surge of violence in Syria ahead of Arab League talks aimed at ending the bloodshed.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the latest deaths, on November 23, included two people killed in Hayalin, in central Hama province, and another two in the nearby besieged city of Homs.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Abdullah Gul has warned that the crisis is at "the point of no return" amid growing international outrage over President Bashar al-Assad's eight-month crackdown on dissent.

Gul, speaking in London, warned that the crisis could drag the whole region into "turmoil and bloodshed."

His comments came as the Arab League, which suspended Syria's membership last week, prepared to hold key talks in Cairo on November 24 about the crisis.

compiled from agency reports