NICOSIA, Cyprus: Syrian army deserters on Saturday seized control of the town of Douma just northeast of Damascus after fierce fighting, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement.
"Groups of deserters took control of all districts in the town of Douma, near Damascus, after fierce fighting on Saturday with Syrian security forces," the Observatory's chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP, citing militants there.
He said there were reports of fighting continuing in the town late on Saturday.
There was no independent confirmation that Douma had been taken or of fighting there, as foreign reporters are generally not allowed access.
Earlier on Saturday, the Observatory said four civilians had been killed in Douma when security forces fired on mourners at a funeral.
