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Syria police 'killed in clashes' in Jisr al-Shughour | Syria police 'killed in clashes' in Jisr al-Shughour |
(40 minutes later) | |
Eighty members of the Syrian security forces have been killed in clashes in the north-western town of Jisr al-Shughour, state TV reports. | Eighty members of the Syrian security forces have been killed in clashes in the north-western town of Jisr al-Shughour, state TV reports. |
Reports said 20 police were killed in an ambush "by armed gangs", while dozens more were killed in clashes with gunmen inside the town. | Reports said 20 police were killed in an ambush "by armed gangs", while dozens more were killed in clashes with gunmen inside the town. |
There has been no independent confirmation of the claim. | There has been no independent confirmation of the claim. |
It would be the deadliest such incident claimed by officials since protests against President Assad began in March. | It would be the deadliest such incident claimed by officials since protests against President Assad began in March. |
The state TV claim came a day after rights activists said at least 35 people, including police, had been killed in Jisr al-Shughour, close to the Turkish border. | |
'Grenades' | 'Grenades' |
Foreign media are greatly restricted in Syria and the details of these reports cannot be independently verified. | |
Syrian state television repeatedly updated urgent flashes with details of what appears to be a dramatic scene unfolding at Jisr al-Shughour. | Syrian state television repeatedly updated urgent flashes with details of what appears to be a dramatic scene unfolding at Jisr al-Shughour. |
The figures are rising dramatically - State TV is now saying 80 security forces have been killed in what it calls the "massacre" going on. | The figures are rising dramatically - State TV is now saying 80 security forces have been killed in what it calls the "massacre" going on. |
This is by far the biggest incident of its kind since the uprising began in the middle of March. | This is by far the biggest incident of its kind since the uprising began in the middle of March. |
If the official account is to be believed, it is - in this stage and in this particular location - an armed insurrection rather than a protest by lots of peaceful citizens. | If the official account is to be believed, it is - in this stage and in this particular location - an armed insurrection rather than a protest by lots of peaceful citizens. |
Syrian Interior Minister Ibrahim Shaar said the government would respond "decisively" to the attacks. | |
State TV said hundreds of armed gunmen had taken over parts of Jisr al-Shughour, attacking government buildings and setting them on fire. | |
It said gangs using light weapons, grenades and stolen explosives ambushed police as they approached the town, killing 20 officers. | |
The police convoy had been "on their way to rescue citizens being terrorised" by the gangs in Jisr al-Shughour, said the report. | |
Another 37 security officials were killed in an attack on the town's security centre and eight in a bomb attack on a post office. Others died in clashes throughout the town. | Another 37 security officials were killed in an attack on the town's security centre and eight in a bomb attack on a post office. Others died in clashes throughout the town. |
"The armed groups in Jisr al-Shughour carried out a genuine massacre and mutilated some of the bodies," said the TV report. | "The armed groups in Jisr al-Shughour carried out a genuine massacre and mutilated some of the bodies," said the TV report. |
The Sana news agency quoted an official as saying security forces were surrounding houses from which armed men were firing weapons. | The Sana news agency quoted an official as saying security forces were surrounding houses from which armed men were firing weapons. |
The official said the gunmen were using residents as human shields. | The official said the gunmen were using residents as human shields. |
'Shot in the back' | |
But the BBC's Jim Muir, in the region, says if official reports are correct, this would be the most serious resistance yet to the government's efforts to control the uprising. | |
It would also be the first time officials have admitted to such a large loss of personnel. | |
Our correspondent says there has been an unusual lack of information about the clashes on opposition websites and Facebook pages. | |
One protest site said the town had been surrounded and there were suggestions some members of the security forces had switched sides. | |
An eyewitness in Jisr al-Shughour told BBC Arabic the protesters did not have weapons. | |
He said all the soldiers who died had been "shot in the back by some Syrian security elements". | |
Human rights activist Mustafa Osso also told the Associated Press he doubted the claims by officials, saying the protesters had so far been peaceful and unarmed. | |
The Syrian protests began in mid-March in the southern town of Deraa and have spread to other towns and cities. | |
Activists say more than 1,000 people have been killed in the unrest. | Activists say more than 1,000 people have been killed in the unrest. |
On Monday, residents of the central town of Hama told BBC Arabic they were observing a general strike, and that shops were closed for a third day in mourning over the killing of 70 protesters last Friday. | |
Meanwhile, residents of Adlib, in the north-west, said the headquarters of the ruling Baath Party had been burned down following a huge protest there. | |
Amnesty International has condemned the "brutal treatment" of protesters in Syria, and has called on the UN to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court. | |
Bashar al-Assad, whose family has been in power for four decades, has promised to introduce reforms, but this has done little to placate his opponents. | Bashar al-Assad, whose family has been in power for four decades, has promised to introduce reforms, but this has done little to placate his opponents. |
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