Middle East unrest as the Ramadan holiday begins

Story from The Takeaway. Listen to audio above for full report.

Syria’s government cracked down on democratic protesters in the city of Hama on Sunday, leaving as many as 130 dead, according to activists there. Tanks and troops entered the city early Sunday morning, in a brutal show of force just as the holy month of Ramadan begins.

There’s further tension in the Middle East this week as Egypt’s former President Hosni Mubarak, his two sons and seven associates, will begin trial on Wednesday in Cairo for charges of corruption and ordering the killings of protesters. The trial will be televised.

More coverage from the BBC:

> Syria unrest: Barack Obama condemns ‘brutal’ Hama raid
> Egypt changes Mubarak trial venue

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