bjbjLULU KWAME HOLMAN: A crackdown against anti-government protesters escalated in Syria
today. Overnight, the city of Hama, north of Damascus, was heavily shelled. Tanks moved
into the main square and electricity and water supplies were cut off. We have a report narrated
by Neil Connery of Independent Television News. NEIL CONNERY: For the fourth day running,
the streets of Hama echoed to the sound of gunfire as the Syrian regime tightens its
grip. Army tanks head deep into the center of this city of 800,000 people in their latest
advance in this crackdown on protests. These streets, which have been the focus of anti-government
rallies, now seemingly under the control of the regime. The dangers to those trapped here
come from many fronts. These pictures placed on the Internet reportedly show snipers at
work on the rooftops. Communication with the city is cut off, along with water and electricity.
In what could be a sign of cracks emerging within the military, a group of soldiers calling
itself the Syrian Free Army Union has posted a message saying it wants to encourage others
to break away. They say they want to help the generals and soldiers who are ready to
leave the regime's orders. KWAME HOLMAN: In New York, the U.N. Security Council adopted
a presidential statement condemning Syrian authorities for attacking civilians and committing
human rights violations. For the past three months, the world body had been silent on
the escalating violence there. Tropical Storm Emily churned through the Caribbean today.
The storm brushed past Puerto Rico, but was forecast to dump large amounts of rain on
the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The storm threatened some 600,000 people still living
without shelter in Haiti after last year's earthquake. As Emily approached land, waves
and wind began to pick up. More than 10 inches of rain was expected in some parts of the
country. Three NATO troops have been killed in Afghanistan. NATO officials said two died
in a roadside bombing in the south yesterday, and another died in the east. So far this
year, 328 international troops have been killed in Afghanistan. President Obama today urged
Congress to end a partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration by the end
of this week. Members went into their summer recess last night without resolving a partisan
dispute over funding. Consequently, more than 4,000 FAA employees have been furloughed and
70,000 construction workers idled. At the White House, Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood said Congress should pass the legislation to restore the funding immediately. SECRETARY
OF TRANSPORTATION RAY LAHOOD: For politicians to run around Washington, as they have done
for the last seven months, and talk about creating jobs, putting people back to work,
this is not the way to do it. The American people see the fallacy in these very hollow
speeches. If Congress really believes in the words that they're saying about jobs, creating
jobs, putting people back to work, stop your vacation. Come back to Washington. Pass a
clean bill. KWAME HOLMAN: In the meantime, LaHood assured travelers the nation's air
safety won't be compromised. Essential personnel, such as air traffic controllers and airline
inspectors, will remain on the job. Justice Department officials today announced the largest
prosecution in history for online child exploitation. Attorney General Eric Holder said 72 defendants
have been charged worldwide, and, of those, 52 have been arrested. The group called Dreamboard
considered itself the premier online image library of adults molesting young children,
often violently. At a Washington news conference, Holder described how people gained access
to the group. ERIC HOLDER, U.S. attorney general: In order to become part of the Dreamboard
community, prospective members were required to upload pornography portraying children
under 12 years of age or younger. Once given access, participants had to continually upload
images of child sexual abuse in order to maintain membership. The more content they provided,
the more content they were allowed to access. KWAME HOLMAN: Two administrators of the group
were arrested abroad. Three more remain at large. Those are some of the day's major stories.
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