Syrian troops enter towns near border with Lebanon

[Guest guest]

http://www.haaretz.com/news/mideast-in-turmoil/syrian-troops-enter-towns-near-bo\

rder-with-lebanon-1.369717

Published 20:02 26.06.11

Latest update 20:02 26.06.11

Syrian troops enter towns near border with Lebanon

Syrian soldiers on outskirts of town of Kseir claim to be looking for

terrorists; Lebanese security source says many families fled Kseir to Lebanon

over weekend.

By DPA

The sounds of gunfire echoed along Syria's border with Lebanon on Sunday as

Syrian troops entered towns close to the dividing line claiming to look for

terrorist groups.

Soldiers were on the outskirts of the town of Kseir, which is located 15

kilometers from the border with Lebanon, Rami Abdul Rahman, who heads the

London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told the German Press Agency

DPA.

A Lebanese security source said that many families - mainly groups of women and

children - fled Kseir overnight Saturday and through Sunday morning to Lebanon.

Nearly 12,000 Syrians have crossed into Turkey to escape the violence.

Al-Watan, a pro-government Syrian newspaper, said the military sweep was aimed

at " tracking down armed groups " who have committed " horrible crimes " against

civilians.

The government of President Bashar Assad blames " armed groups " and

" infiltrators " for the unrest that began in March.

At least 16 people were killed in several Syrian cities on Friday after security

forces fired live ammunition at anti-government protesters.

The demonstrations continued Saturday as troops prevented the families of those

killed in the protests from holding funeral processions in the Damascus suburb

of Kiswa.

Human rights groups say more than 1,300 civilians have been killed and 10,000

detained since protests demanding greater freedoms and Assad's ouster started.

Hundreds of security personnel have also died in the uprising.

About 100 independent Syrian opposition figures are to meet in Damascus Monday

to discuss ways to end the crisis, said opposition writer and journalist Louai

Hussein.

The activists " are trying to formulate a kind of plan to end the current crisis

in the country and reach a compromise with the regime of al-Assad, " one of them

told DPA.

" There is a lack of trust between the activists and the regime. Maybe during

this meeting they can raise their case and the regime would listen. "

[Guest guest]

Syria considers Lebanon a break away province anyway. They have also had a strong military presence there from time to time since WWII. Maybe if they did move in and all these silly revolts could be crushed, Lebanon could stand a chance at recovering from decades of civil war, banditry and terrorism.

In a message dated 6/26/2011 1:28:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

Syrian troops enter towns near border with Lebanon

[Guest guest]

Syria considers Lebanon a break away province anyway. They have also had a strong military presence there from time to time since WWII. Maybe if they did move in and all these silly revolts could be crushed, Lebanon could stand a chance at recovering from decades of civil war, banditry and terrorism.

In a message dated 6/26/2011 1:28:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

Syrian troops enter towns near border with Lebanon