Syrian troops kill at least 52 people

Beirut: Two Syrian rights groups say government forces have killed at least 52 people in the latest phase of their crackdown on dissent and the toll for the day could rise to 69.

Sunday's casualties were mainly in the eastern city of Deir Al Zour and the central city of Houleh.

Abdul-Karim Rihawi, the Damascus-based chief of the Syrian Human Rights League, says at least 42 people were killed in Deir Al Zour and 10 in Houleh.

Ammar Qurabi, who heads the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria, says 42 people were killed in Deir Al Zour and 17 in Houleh. He says 10 people were shot dead in Idlib while taking part in a funeral.