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Syria police 'killed in clashes' in Jisr al-Shughour Syria police 'killed in clashes' in Jisr al-Shughour
(about 1 hour 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. Some 120 members of the Syrian security forces have been killed in clashes in the north-western town of Jisr al-Shughour, state media report.
Reports said 20 police were killed in an ambush "by armed gangs", while dozens more were killed in clashes with gunmen inside the town. Initial reports said 20 police were killed in an ambush by "armed gangs". But officials later said dozens more had died in other incidents, including 82 in an attack on their headquarters.
There has been no independent confirmation of the claim. If confirmed, it would be the deadliest day for the security forces since anti-government protests began in mid-March.
It would be the deadliest such incident claimed by officials since protests against President Assad began in March. A witness has cast doubt on the claims.
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'
Foreign media are greatly restricted in Syria and the details of these reports cannot be independently verified.Foreign media are greatly restricted in Syria and the details of these reports cannot be independently verified.
'Grenades'
The state media reports came a day after human rights activists said at least 35 people, including police, had been killed in Jisr al-Shughour, close to the Turkish border.
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. Syrian Interior Minister Ibrahim Shaar said the government would respond "strongly and decisively" to Monday's attacks.
State TV said hundreds of armed gunmen had taken over parts of Jisr al-Shughour, attacking government buildings and setting them on fire. State TV said hundreds of armed gunmen had taken over parts of Jisr al-Shughour, about 20km (12 miles) from the Turkish border, 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. It said gangs using light weapons, grenades and stolen explosives ambushed police as they approached the town early on Monday, 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.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, while the bloodiest incident occurred when gunmen took over the security services' headquarters, it added.
"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 official Sana news agency quoted a correspondent as saying reinforcements had been sent to Jisr al-Shughour and that security forces personnel were surrounding houses from which armed men were firing weapons.
The official said the gunmen were using residents as human shields. He added that the gunmen were using civilians as human shields, and that some of their victims' bodies had been thrown in the Orontes river.
'Shot in the back''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. A witness told BBC Arabic that the protesters did not have weapons.
"We don't have any kind of weapons," he said. "The soldiers were coming our way, then they were 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 BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut 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.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.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. One protest site said Jisr al-Shughour 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. The protests began in mid-March in the southern city of Deraa and have spread to other towns and cities.
He said all the soldiers who died had been "shot in the back by some Syrian security elements". Activists say more than 1,100 people have been killed in the unrest.
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. On Monday, residents of the central city of Hama told BBC Arabic they were observing a general strike, and that shops had closed for a third day in mourning over the killing of at least 70 protesters on Friday.
The Syrian protests began in mid-March in the southern town of Deraa and have spread to other towns and cities. Meanwhile, residents of Idlib, to the east of Jisr al-Shugour, said the headquarters of the ruling Baath Party had been burned down following a huge protest there.
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.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. Mr 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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