The city of Hama, in west-central Syria, has been under siege by regime troops for the past two days. Activists claim dozens of deaths among civilians.

According to the Local Coordination Committees, of the reported 90 fatalities on Friday (at 4:00PM), 66 were killed in Hama, most of them were killed in the Arbaeen Neighborhood massacre.

Speaking to the Guardian, a rebel stationed in Hama said “The Syrian army used tanks and mortars to attack the neighbourhood and snipers were deployed to control movement on the main streets.”

According to the FSA fighter, whose name was not released, Syrian troops also conducted raids on the Barazil district and “took most of the men there suspecting them of being members of FSA. They just knock at the door and as soon as a man shows up they snatch him.”

“So far, we have 62 martyrs, 45 of them are from Arbaeen,” he added.

The main opposition Syrian National Council grouping reported that Hama came under "savage bombardment" at dawn on Thursday by regime forces using artillery and helicopter gunships.

A video showed Syrian troops deployed in the city.

Government forces backed by armour also launched an assault on Tadamon, southern Damascus. Activists say government forces used dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles to attack "the rebels' last stronghold" in the capital.

A video showed civilians retrieving bodies from the streets in Tadamon.

Meanwhile, Syrian troops continued shelling Syria's largest city in an attempt to reclaim areas under rebel control.