Syrian tanks and helicopters storm rebel town after siege

12 April 2012

Syrian pro-democracy activists said today that troops firing machineguns mounted on tanks had stormed a town which has been a centre of dissent against president Bashar Assad.

Armoured vehicles backed by helicopter gunships were reported to have entered Rastan during the night after a two-day siege. Troops were deployed on the streets. One resident who gave his name as Abu Qassem said: "The sound of machineguns and explosions has been non-stop."

Another said: "We have not been able to go out onto the streets for days and we have no idea of the casualties."

Army deserters who had gathered in the town have clashed with military and security forces. Rastan lies on the highway to Turkey near the city of Homs. The region has emerged as a centre of armed resistance after six months of street protests.

The UN says more than 2,700 people, including 100 children, have been killed in president Assad's crackdown across the country.

The popular protests are demanding an end to more than four decades of the Assad family's rule over the country with a population of 20 million.

Syrian authorities say 700 police and army have been killed during the unrest which they blame on "terrorists" and "mutineers".

President Assad has said foreign powers are using the unrest to divide Syria.

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