Dubai: Syrian troops launched raids on several rebel towns yesterday that left at least 20 people dead after raging firefights with army deserters as the UN and Arab League envoy arrived in Moscow.
The fierce assault targeted Saraqeb in the northwestern province of Idlib which was stormed by troops backed by 26 tanks that "took up position to split the town in two," activist Nour Al Deen Al Abdo told AFP.
Residents cowered indoors as explosions rattled Saraqeb while troops swooped to make arrests. The army also rained mortars and rockets on several neighbourhoods of Homs killing seven civilians.
The town of Qalaat Al Madiq was also pounded with mortar fire by the army. Meanwhile, "very violent" clashes rocked the Damascus area overnight, activist Mohammad Al Shami said.
An adviser to President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia's priority for Syria is to persuade all sides to negotiate a peaceful end to the crisis, ahead of talks today with Kofi Annan, UN and Arab League envoy.
Medvedev's foreign policy adviser, Sergei Prikhodko, said that Russia's top priority for Syria was a swift halt to the violence and to persuade the opposition "to sit at the negotiating table with government representatives and reach a peaceful resolution of the crisis." Meanwhile, several opposition groups will gather in Turkey tomorrow to hammer out common objectives.
