Fighting Rages In Syrian Town

The Daily Telegraph reports:

Syrian state television reported heavy clashes between army troops and gunmen in the northern town of Jisr al-Shughour on Sunday, and said a large number of people had been arrested.

"Heavy confrontations are raging between army units and members of armed organisations taking up positions in the surroundings of Jisr al-Shughour and inside it," it said.

"Two members of the armed organisations were killed, large numbers of them arrested, and lethal weapons in their possession were seized," it said, adding that army units had defused bombs and explosive charges planted by gunmen on the bridges and roads of the town.

Tanks and helicopters shelled and machinegunned a northern town on Sunday in a drive to crush an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad that has led thousands of refugees to flee to Turkey.

Forces commanded by Assad's brother Maher stormed Jisr al-Shughour from the south, residents said, copying tactics used in other cities and towns to suppress street protests demanding political freedom and an end to Assad's autocratic rule.

"They are using up to 150 tanks and armoured vehicles. Jisr al-Shughour is small and there is not even space to park all this armour. The shelling is nonstop now. Two helicopters are flying overhead and firing their machineguns," one resident said.