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| Syrian troops 'take control of northern city of Idlib' | Syrian troops 'take control of northern city of Idlib' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Syrian government forces have taken control of the north-western city of Idlib, after days of clashes with rebel fighters, opposition activists say. | Syrian government forces have taken control of the north-western city of Idlib, after days of clashes with rebel fighters, opposition activists say. |
| Security forces are now reportedly carrying out house-to-house searches in the area, which has been a stronghold of the Free Syrian Army (FSA). | Security forces are now reportedly carrying out house-to-house searches in the area, which has been a stronghold of the Free Syrian Army (FSA). |
| It is not clear where the rebels have gone, or how many people have died. | It is not clear where the rebels have gone, or how many people have died. |
| Meanwhile, the UN envoy to Syria has said President Bashar al-Assad has sent a response to a proposed peace plan. | Meanwhile, the UN envoy to Syria has said President Bashar al-Assad has sent a response to a proposed peace plan. |
| Kofi Annan was considering the reply and would have more to say later on Wednesday, a spokesman in Geneva told reporters. | Kofi Annan was considering the reply and would have more to say later on Wednesday, a spokesman in Geneva told reporters. |
| The former UN secretary general, who is also representing the Arab League, delivered the plan during a visit to Damascus over the weekend. | The former UN secretary general, who is also representing the Arab League, delivered the plan during a visit to Damascus over the weekend. |
| It included demands for an immediate ceasefire by both sides, access for humanitarian aid, and the beginning of political dialogue. | It included demands for an immediate ceasefire by both sides, access for humanitarian aid, and the beginning of political dialogue. |
| Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad al-Maqdisi told the BBC that President Assad's response had been positive because he wanted Mr Annan's mission to succeed. | Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad al-Maqdisi told the BBC that President Assad's response had been positive because he wanted Mr Annan's mission to succeed. |
| "It is in Syria's vital interest to have a successful mission for Mr Annan, because Syria believes in a political solution to this crisis," he said. | "It is in Syria's vital interest to have a successful mission for Mr Annan, because Syria believes in a political solution to this crisis," he said. |
| "In order to have a proper political solution, we need to have people rallying around the table of dialogue," Mr Maqdisi added. "This is the only solution to overcome our painful crisis." | "In order to have a proper political solution, we need to have people rallying around the table of dialogue," Mr Maqdisi added. "This is the only solution to overcome our painful crisis." |
| However, officials told the Associated Press that the Syrian response did not mention steps towards a political transition that would see Mr Assad step down, an end to government attacks on protesters and the withdrawal of troops from urban areas. | However, officials told the Associated Press that the Syrian response did not mention steps towards a political transition that would see Mr Assad step down, an end to government attacks on protesters and the withdrawal of troops from urban areas. |
| On Monday, the president of the UN General Assembly said more than 8,000 people had been killed since the uprising began last March. | On Monday, the president of the UN General Assembly said more than 8,000 people had been killed since the uprising began last March. |
| Deraa shelled | Deraa shelled |
| Despite the visits to Syria by Mr Annan and UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos last week, fighting has continued unabated, with activists accusing troops and pro-government militia of killing scores of civilians. | Despite the visits to Syria by Mr Annan and UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos last week, fighting has continued unabated, with activists accusing troops and pro-government militia of killing scores of civilians. |
| On Wednesday, activists said that after a four-day assault, security forces had seized control of Idlib, a predominantly Sunni Muslim city not far from the Turkish border with a population of about 150,000. | On Wednesday, activists said that after a four-day assault, security forces had seized control of Idlib, a predominantly Sunni Muslim city not far from the Turkish border with a population of about 150,000. |
| "Since last night, there has been no more fighting," Noureddin al-Abdo, an activist in Idlib, told the AFP news agency. | "Since last night, there has been no more fighting," Noureddin al-Abdo, an activist in Idlib, told the AFP news agency. |
| "The Free Syrian Army has withdrawn and regime forces have stormed the entire city and are carrying out house-to-house searches." | "The Free Syrian Army has withdrawn and regime forces have stormed the entire city and are carrying out house-to-house searches." |
| "The FSA preferred to withdraw because everyone knows it cannot resist the army," Mr Abdo added. | "The FSA preferred to withdraw because everyone knows it cannot resist the army," Mr Abdo added. |
| The Local Co-ordination Committees, an activist network, said 16 corpses had been found on the streets, many of them bearing signs of torture. It put the nationwide death toll at 38. | The Local Co-ordination Committees, an activist network, said 16 corpses had been found on the streets, many of them bearing signs of torture. It put the nationwide death toll at 38. |
| On Tuesday, the pro-government newspaper, al-Watan, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops were in control of Idlib, though the Observatory said there were still pockets of resistance in three areas, including the central districts of Dubair and Bustan Ghanoum. | On Tuesday, the pro-government newspaper, al-Watan, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops were in control of Idlib, though the Observatory said there were still pockets of resistance in three areas, including the central districts of Dubair and Bustan Ghanoum. |
| The army began an offensive on Idlib province on Saturday, in an effort to crush "armed terrorist gangs". Now the provincial capital has been retaken, activists expect troops to advance into the countryside. | The army began an offensive on Idlib province on Saturday, in an effort to crush "armed terrorist gangs". Now the provincial capital has been retaken, activists expect troops to advance into the countryside. |
| At least four people were killed in fierce clashes between rebel fighters and security forces in the nearby Jabal al-Zawiya region on Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. | At least four people were killed in fierce clashes between rebel fighters and security forces in the nearby Jabal al-Zawiya region on Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. |
| Seventeen soldiers were killed late on Tuesday after rebels attacked checkpoints in the village of al-Barra, the UK-based group added. | Seventeen soldiers were killed late on Tuesday after rebels attacked checkpoints in the village of al-Barra, the UK-based group added. |
| Government forces were also reported to have been shelling the southern city of Deraa. | Government forces were also reported to have been shelling the southern city of Deraa. |
| One resident told the BBC that troops had been targeting houses using tank and artillery fire. | One resident told the BBC that troops had been targeting houses using tank and artillery fire. |
| Abu Ahmed said residents were not able to leave their houses and people were panicking, fearing the intensity of the shelling would cause homes to collapse. | Abu Ahmed said residents were not able to leave their houses and people were panicking, fearing the intensity of the shelling would cause homes to collapse. |
| The Free Syrian Army spokesman in Jordan, Muncif al-Zaim, said there were about 130 tanks in the area, and reports of dead and wounded. | The Free Syrian Army spokesman in Jordan, Muncif al-Zaim, said there were about 130 tanks in the area, and reports of dead and wounded. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights later said 13 civilians and seven army defectors had been killed by security forces in Deraa. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights later said 13 civilians and seven army defectors had been killed by security forces in Deraa. |
| The BBC's Dale Gavlak in Amman says some reports have called the military assault on Deraa the most violent since April, when the city came under a heavy siege. | |
| They suggest that the government may be preparing for an offensive similar to that launched against Idlib and Homs, our correspondent adds. | |
| 'Systemic torture' | 'Systemic torture' |
| The violence comes two weeks after troops backed by tanks entered the shattered Baba Amr district of Homs, which had been under bombardment for almost a month, leaving an estimated 700 people dead. | The violence comes two weeks after troops backed by tanks entered the shattered Baba Amr district of Homs, which had been under bombardment for almost a month, leaving an estimated 700 people dead. |
| On Wednesday, Syria's state news agency, Sana, meanwhile reported that "armed terrorist groups" had killed 15 people, including a woman and her four children, in the Karm al-Louz district. | On Wednesday, Syria's state news agency, Sana, meanwhile reported that "armed terrorist groups" had killed 15 people, including a woman and her four children, in the Karm al-Louz district. |
| It also said two senior army officers were killed after gunmen opened fire on their car in the countryside outside the northern city of Aleppo. | It also said two senior army officers were killed after gunmen opened fire on their car in the countryside outside the northern city of Aleppo. |
| Overnight, the human rights group Amnesty International called for the prosecution of those responsible for torturing civilians in Syria during the suppression of anti-government protests. | Overnight, the human rights group Amnesty International called for the prosecution of those responsible for torturing civilians in Syria during the suppression of anti-government protests. |
| Security forces had created a "nightmarish world of systemic torture", which was "intended primarily to degrade, humiliate and terrify its victims into silence", it said. | Security forces had created a "nightmarish world of systemic torture", which was "intended primarily to degrade, humiliate and terrify its victims into silence", it said. |
| The group added that it had counted 31 different forms of torture while interviewing Syrians who had fled into Jordan. | The group added that it had counted 31 different forms of torture while interviewing Syrians who had fled into Jordan. |
| Meanwhile, three prominent members of the main opposition coalition, the Syrian National Council (SNC), have announced their resignation. | Meanwhile, three prominent members of the main opposition coalition, the Syrian National Council (SNC), have announced their resignation. |
| Haitham al-Maleh, a long-standing dissident, opposition leader Kamal al-Labwani and human rights lawyer Catherine al-Talli wrote on Facebook that they were quitting due to "differences" and the SNC's "inefficiency". | Haitham al-Maleh, a long-standing dissident, opposition leader Kamal al-Labwani and human rights lawyer Catherine al-Talli wrote on Facebook that they were quitting due to "differences" and the SNC's "inefficiency". |
| The Turkish newspaper, Milat, also said it had lost contact with one of its reporters, Adem Ozkose, and a freelance cameraman, Hamit Coskun, working in northern Syria. They were least heard from on Saturday when they called from near Idlib. | The Turkish newspaper, Milat, also said it had lost contact with one of its reporters, Adem Ozkose, and a freelance cameraman, Hamit Coskun, working in northern Syria. They were least heard from on Saturday when they called from near Idlib. |