Seeking safety in Iraq

Syrian refugees line up on the western edge of Iraq, anxious to find a place to live.

Many have come from town of Albu Kamal.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN REFUGEE JAMIL RAFEA AL-MAHMOUD, SAYING:

"Can you imagine what it feels like to leave your home, family and people and come here. How do you think it feels? Shells were falling on our heads, on our homes. Yesterday before Iftar, shells fell on three houses of my uncles... a shell on each house. This is the situation. When we woke up there was shelling and when we went to sleep there was shelling."

They speak of loss and despair.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN WOMAN HAYEM, SAYING :

"We were sitting inside the house when the shelling started. When we ran out to take shelter in our neighbor's house, a shell landed at the door, killing my husband and wounding my four sons. One of my sons was hit in his leg and is expected to be brought here by ambulance. Government security forces killed my husband.

Iraq's Shi'ite-led government said Monday that it rejected Arab League calls for President Bashar al-Assad to quit, saying it was for the Syrian people alone to decide his fate and others "should not interfere".

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.