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Syria unrest: Troops and army deserters clash in Idlib Syria crisis: Scores reported killed as violence grows
(about 4 hours later)
There have been renewed clashes between security forces and army deserters in north-western Syria, activists say. Scores of people have been killed in Syria, opposition activists say, in a second day of heavy bloodshed.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 100 deserters were killed or wounded as troops besieged two villages in the province of Idlib. href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Syrian-Observatory-for-Human-Rights/121855461256134" >The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 47, while the href="https://www.facebook.com/LCCSy" >Local Co-ordination Committees said as many as 78 people were killed.
Dozens of civilians are trapped in the villages in the Jabal al-Zawiya area. Meanwhile video has emerged of a young boy, whose body was apparently torn in half by shelling in the city of Homs.
On Monday, activists said more than 70 soldiers were shot dead after deserting their positions in Idlib. The claims have not been independently verified. In the north-west, dozens of army deserters, security forces members and civilians reportedly died in clashes.
At least forty civilians were reportedly killed nationwide on Monday, including Homs to the north of Damascus, and Deraa in the south. The claims have not been independently verified, as foreign media are banned from reporting in Syria.
The UN says more than 5,000 people have been killed across Syria since protests against President Bashar al-Assad erupted in March.The UN says more than 5,000 people have been killed across Syria since protests against President Bashar al-Assad erupted in March.
Damascus says it is fighting "armed terrorist gangs", who want to destabilise the country.Damascus says it is fighting "armed terrorist gangs", who want to destabilise the country.
'Civilians surrounded' Live-fire exercises
The London-based href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Syrian-Observatory-for-Human-Rights/121855461256134" >Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday that the latest clashes in Idlib were taking place around the Jabal al-Zawiya villages of Kafruwed and al-Fatira - not far from the Turkish border. The London-based Observatory said that at least 23 people were killed in clashes between army deserters and the security forces in the north-western province of Idlib on Tuesday.
The group cited army deserters as saying that 100 of their colleagues were "killed or wounded between the villages", the AFP news agency reported. It said that dozens of civilians remained besieged by an army offensive in two villages in the Jabal al-Zawiya area.
"Dozens of civilians, including many activists, are also surrounded by the Syrian army," a statement added. The group also cited defectors as saying that 100 of their colleagues were "killed or wounded between the villages", the AFP news agency reported.
The Local Co-ordination Committees, an activist group that documents and organises anti-government protests, said 11 civilians had been killed on Tuesday, including five in Homs and three in Idlib. The LCC put the death toll in Idlib at 59.
Both groups also reported deaths in Homs, Hama and Deraa.
Video footage emerged on Tuesday, allegedly showing the body of a young boy torn in half in the ruins of two houses hit by army shelling in Homs.
Meanwhile, Syria's air and naval forces conducted live-fire manoeuvres aimed testing their readiness to repulse "any aggression against the homeland," the official Sana news agency reported.
On Monday, more than 70 soldiers were shot dead after deserting their positions in Idlib, activists said.
Syrian opposition sources said the army was intensifying its campaign in Idlib ahead of the expected deployment of observers who will monitor the Syrian government's implementation of an Arab League peace initiative.Syrian opposition sources said the army was intensifying its campaign in Idlib ahead of the expected deployment of observers who will monitor the Syrian government's implementation of an Arab League peace initiative.
League officials have said that the first monitors could be in the country as early as Thursday.League officials have said that the first monitors could be in the country as early as Thursday.
This follows the announcement that Damascus had agreed to the observer mission on Monday.This follows the announcement that Damascus had agreed to the observer mission on Monday.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said the country's sovereignty would be protected because the Arab League had agreed to amendments to the deal, which also calls for all violence to be halted, for the withdrawal of troops from the streets, and the release of detainees.Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said the country's sovereignty would be protected because the Arab League had agreed to amendments to the deal, which also calls for all violence to be halted, for the withdrawal of troops from the streets, and the release of detainees.
The observers would be "free" in their movements and "under the protection of the Syrian government", Mr Muallem added, but would not be allowed to visit sensitive military sites.The observers would be "free" in their movements and "under the protection of the Syrian government", Mr Muallem added, but would not be allowed to visit sensitive military sites.
The observers will have a one-month mandate that can be extended by another month if both sides agree.The observers will have a one-month mandate that can be extended by another month if both sides agree.
The leader of the Syrian National Council, an opposition umbrella group, has dismissed the government's decision as "just a ploy".The leader of the Syrian National Council, an opposition umbrella group, has dismissed the government's decision as "just a ploy".
Activists say that if the government does withdraw the army, many areas will immediately fall out of its control.Activists say that if the government does withdraw the army, many areas will immediately fall out of its control.