Tanks in the offensive on the city of Deir Ezzor

The Syrian army has launched an offensive on the strategically important city of Deir Ezzor, human rights activists and protesters said.

Tanks have entered several parts of the city, the largest in eastern Syria, and shelling can be heard in at least three suburbs, said the head of the Syrian Organization for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman.

He stated that about 250 tanks and other armored vehicles are participating in the offensive.

The army's latest offensive came just hours after Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moalem told his countrymen that "free and fair" elections would be held by the end of the year and that the new parliament would represent the aspirations of the Syrian people.

The Syrian government is trying to suppress the democratic movement by force, and so far around 1,6 civilians have been killed and several thousand arrested, according to data from the London-based Syrian Organization for Human Rights.

The latest military offensive came just hours after Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moalem told his countrymen that "free and fair" elections would be held by the end of the year and that the new parliament would represent the aspirations of the Syrian people.

Moalem, during a meeting with Arab and other foreign ambassadors in Damascus, advocated for the continuation of reforms, stressing that dialogue is the only way to progress.

The announcement comes as the Syrian army increases pressure on the besieged city of Hama, the center of demonstrations against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

And the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, called on Assad to stop the deployment of military forces against the civilian population.

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