Calls for protests at Russian embassies over Eastern Ghouta bloodshed

Syria activists are calling for protests at Russian embassies across the world, over Moscow's role in the devastation caused by days of bombing in Eastern Ghouta.

More than 350 civilians have been killed in the five-day blitz by the Syrian regime - led by President Bashar al-Assad - which is believed to be backed by Russian war planes.

Images from the besieged city showing bloodied children pulled from rubble and wounded lying on hospital floors have shocked the world this week, with aid agencies pleading for access to the besieged opposition enclave.

The UN had demanded an immediate ceasefire and said it has "run out of words" to describe the horror. 

The London-based Syria Solidarity Campaign has called on supporters to phone the Russian embassy in their country and demand the massacres stop.

The campaign group has also organised a silent protest to take place in central London on Thursday evening against "the absolute silence of the international community" over Assad's atrocities.

Meanwhile, some 200 protesters gathered outside the Russian embassy in Turkey's Istanbul.

Facebook Post

The demonstrators - most of them Syrians - chanted slogans against Damascus as well as Moscow and fellow regime supporter, Iran, an AFP correspondent said.

Others held placards saying "Russians, you are killing Ghouta's children, but history records" and "Children are dying of hunger in under-siege Eastern Ghouta".

Protesters called on the major powers to bring pressure to bear to "end the bloodbath".

Now a multi-front war, Russia entered Syria in September 2015, sending planes to back the Assad regime and tipping the military situation in Damascus's favour.

Turkey, which has supported Syrian rebels in the conflict, has been working closely with Moscow and Tehran on a process to bring peace to Syria, despite occasional tensions.

Moscow has denied involvement in the Ghouta bombardment, on Wednesday calling the accusations "groundless" but photos from the area have shown Russian aircraft operating in the area.