WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The brutal beating of one of Syria's most popular political cartoonists is an example of the deplorable legacy of the regime, the U.S. State Department said.
Despite growing international condemnation, Syrian security forces continue an assault on opposition protesters during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The United Nations put the death toll at more than 2,500.
The State Department accused the "regime's thugs" of breaking the fingers of Syrian political cartoonist Ali Farzat and dumping him on the side of the road. Several other regime critics are apparently behind bars, with many held for months without access to the outside world.
"We demand that the Assad regime immediately stop its campaign of terror through torture, illegal imprisonment, and murder," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland in a statement.
Syrian President Bashar Assad in statements published by the official Syrian Arab News Agency maintains his government is dealing with an insurrection while his Baathist regime is busy with political reform.
The West, he said, doesn't want good things for Syria.
"While making empty promises about dialogue with the Syrian people, the Assad regime continues to carry out brutal attacks against peaceful Syrians trying to exercise their universal right to free expression," Nuland said.
