Thousands of Syrian prisoners have been moved to military targets to be used as human shields against Western air strikes, it has been claimed.
The move by Syrian president Bashar al-Assad came as global tensions were mounting over the possibility of Western air strikes in response to the chemical attacks, which killed hundreds of civilians.
In Damascus, residents said they saw buses filled with inmates being taken from their cells to sites the regime believes could be targets.
Locals said the prisoners were moved late at night, with some taken to Mezzeh airbase – thought to be on the West’s hit-list.
Thousands of protesters, rebels and dissidents have been held since the start of the 2011 uprising.
The opposition Syrian National Coalition said: “Assad’s fascist regime is amassing activists and civilians in prisons in military locations that may be targets for foreign forces.
“Using civilians as human shields is a breach of international humanitarian law, and those responsible must be held accountable for crimes against humanity.”
The claims – mostly from rebels – have terrified Damascus residents.
One woman said: “People are scared the US will attack places where the prisoners are held.
“They are afraid as military bases are in built-up areas so civilians may be caught in attacks.
“They have seen the civilians killed by US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
The whole Middle East is being unsettled by the Syrian crisis as neighbouring countries prepare for the worst.
Thousands of Israelis queued for gas masks yesterday as reservists were called up and missile defence batteries deployed.
Lebanon and Jordan have thousands of refugees pouring over their borders, with half arriving at Jordan’s huge Zaatari camp from the region hit by chemical weapons.
Meanwhile Jordanian tanks were seen heading to the border following a threat by the Assad regime to punish any neighbour that helps the US.
Western ally Turkey has also been shelled by regime troops.
Its government has sent 100 chemical weapons experts to border cities to check for signs of gas attacks.
Before David Cameron’s humiliating defeat in Parliament, six British Typhoon war jets had already roared to the front line.
The planes lined up at RAF Coningsby, Lincs, before flying off to their new base RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
America also sent a fifth warship to the Mediterranean.
The PM had wanted to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with US President Barack Obama on strikes on Syria.
Mr Obama must now go it alone or wait for his French and British allies to square their domestic difficulties.
France will not debate the issue until next Wednesday.
So far the US President has trodden cautiously. He said any American action would be “very discrete and limited”.
But the longer the West waits, the more time Assad has to protect his illegal weapons.
It came as Syria’s ally Russia announced it was sending two warships to the region.
World leaders travel to St Petersburg in the second half of next week for the G20 summit.
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