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| Syria crisis: Rebels 'kill 20 soldiers' in Latakia | Syria crisis: Rebels 'kill 20 soldiers' in Latakia |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Syrian activists say at least 20 soldiers have been killed in fierce clashes with rebels in the north-western province of Latakia. | Syrian activists say at least 20 soldiers have been killed in fierce clashes with rebels in the north-western province of Latakia. |
| The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting took place in a region known as Jabal al-Akrad near the Turkish border. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting took place in a region known as Jabal al-Akrad near the Turkish border. |
| The report cannot be independently verified. | The report cannot be independently verified. |
| Latakia has seen an upsurge in fighting and UN observers say they have been denied access to some areas. | Latakia has seen an upsurge in fighting and UN observers say they have been denied access to some areas. |
| The UN observer mission last week suspended its operations amid worsening violence. | The UN observer mission last week suspended its operations amid worsening violence. |
| 'Purged of terrorists' | 'Purged of terrorists' |
| Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP news agency that most of the soldiers had died in direct fighting with rebel forces in Jabal al-Akrad, which means Kurdish Mountain. | Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP news agency that most of the soldiers had died in direct fighting with rebel forces in Jabal al-Akrad, which means Kurdish Mountain. |
| "Other soldiers were killed in a rebel attack on two buildings which the army was using to launch mortar attacks against the Kurdish Mountain," he said. | "Other soldiers were killed in a rebel attack on two buildings which the army was using to launch mortar attacks against the Kurdish Mountain," he said. |
| He said that dozens of soldiers had been wounded and others - including an officer - captured. | He said that dozens of soldiers had been wounded and others - including an officer - captured. |
| Another activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), reported intensified artillery and mortar fire aimed at villages in Jabal al-Akrad, and at the towns of Abo Risha and Tardeen in Latakia. | Another activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), reported intensified artillery and mortar fire aimed at villages in Jabal al-Akrad, and at the towns of Abo Risha and Tardeen in Latakia. |
| The Observatory said that, in total, 28 soldiers and a Shia Muslim cleric were among 39 people killed in violence across Syria on Wednesday. | The Observatory said that, in total, 28 soldiers and a Shia Muslim cleric were among 39 people killed in violence across Syria on Wednesday. |
| It said five government soldiers died in a car bomb attack at a checkpoint in the north-west province of Idlib. | It said five government soldiers died in a car bomb attack at a checkpoint in the north-west province of Idlib. |
| Clashes in the town of Kernaz, in central Hama province, left three soldiers dead, it said. | Clashes in the town of Kernaz, in central Hama province, left three soldiers dead, it said. |
| The Observatory also said that "unidentified gunmen" had killed a Shia cleric in an area of south Damascus that is home to a revered shrine. | The Observatory also said that "unidentified gunmen" had killed a Shia cleric in an area of south Damascus that is home to a revered shrine. |
| Last week, the Syrian government said it had taken control of the western mountain town of Haffa, in Latakia, after fierce fighting with rebels. | Last week, the Syrian government said it had taken control of the western mountain town of Haffa, in Latakia, after fierce fighting with rebels. |
| It said Haffa had been "purged of terrorists" and calm restored. | It said Haffa had been "purged of terrorists" and calm restored. |
| UN monitors were fired on and turned away by angry residents as they tried to enter the town amid fears of a massacre. They were able to return on Friday. | UN monitors were fired on and turned away by angry residents as they tried to enter the town amid fears of a massacre. They were able to return on Friday. |
| Evacuation | Evacuation |
| Following the suspension of the UN observer mission, its leader, Maj Gen Robert Mood, told the UN Security Council that observers were targeted by hostile crowds and gunfire on at least 10 occasions, diplomats said. | Following the suspension of the UN observer mission, its leader, Maj Gen Robert Mood, told the UN Security Council that observers were targeted by hostile crowds and gunfire on at least 10 occasions, diplomats said. |
| But he said his decision to suspend operations did not mean the mission was leaving Syria or abandoning the Syrian people. | |
| The UN mission has been observing the implementation of a peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. | The UN mission has been observing the implementation of a peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. |
| However, a ceasefire that was supposed to have come into effect in April never took hold. | However, a ceasefire that was supposed to have come into effect in April never took hold. |
| The Syrian government said on Tuesday it was willing to evacuate hundreds of civilians trapped by fighting in the central city of Homs, where it said "armed terrorist groups are present". | The Syrian government said on Tuesday it was willing to evacuate hundreds of civilians trapped by fighting in the central city of Homs, where it said "armed terrorist groups are present". |
| Gen Mood earlier admitted that "attempts to extract civilians" from Homs over the past week had been unsuccessful and urged warring parties to let them leave. | Gen Mood earlier admitted that "attempts to extract civilians" from Homs over the past week had been unsuccessful and urged warring parties to let them leave. |
| Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the violence have been continuing. | Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the violence have been continuing. |
| At the G20 summit in Mexico on Tuesday, US President Barack Obama held separate talks with the leaders of Russia and China - both of which have blocked UN resolutions over Syria. | At the G20 summit in Mexico on Tuesday, US President Barack Obama held separate talks with the leaders of Russia and China - both of which have blocked UN resolutions over Syria. |
| He said later that the talks had failed to achieve a breakthrough. | He said later that the talks had failed to achieve a breakthrough. |