Syrian troops enter border town, hundreds detained

Beirut: Activists say Syrian troops backed by tanks have entered a town near the border with Lebanon and are carrying out a campaign of arrests.

Syria-based rights activist Mustafa Osso says the government forces stormed the town of Zabadani in early Sunday. Zabadani has witnessed a string of protests calling for the downfall of President Bashar Assad's regime since the uprising started in mid-March.

Osso says authorities have detained more than 500 people since Friday, when Syrians across the country turned out for the largest protests since the revolt began.

Syrian authorities also detained leading opposition figure Ali Abdullah after a raid on his home in a Damascus suburb Sunday morning, his son Mohammad said. Abdullah, 61, was released following a pardon on May 30 after four years in jail.