Syrian regime seals restive town

Syrian regime seals restive town; mutineers remain

Syrians attend a funeral in a rural area on the Syrian side of the border zone between Turkey and Syria near the Turkish village of Guvecci, 50 kilometers from Hatay city, on Saturday. (Reuters)

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         Syrian soldiers and police officers who deserted rather than fire on protesters in a restive northern city remained behind to fight against an expected all-out government assault, a resident said.

Tanks and thousands of forces sealed the roads leading to the mostly deserted town of Jisr Al-Shughour in response to what the government claims were attacks by “armed groups” that killed more than 120 officers and security personnel last week. Refugees reaching Turkey said the chaos erupted as government forces and police mutinied and joined the local population.

President Bashar Assad is struggling to crush a nearly three-month uprising against his family’s 40-year rule.

Human rights groups say more than 1,300 people have died in the government crackdown.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem called on the United Nations to help his country fight “terrorist groups.” In an interview he gave to the Syrianow website, Moallem said he had sent an urgent message to the UN chief warning that any Security Council resolution targeting Syria would be considered “intervention in his country’s internal affairs.” On Friday, a UN spokesman said Assad was avoiding UN

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s calls.

            “They (regime) have a grudge against Jisr Al-Shughour since the 80s,” Saeb said.

“We hope we will not have to take up weapons,” he added, saying remaining residents were so far insisting on “peaceful resistance.” Saeb spoke using a Turkish mobile phone from a town only few miles from the border.

Confirming information out of Syria is difficult.

Syrian TV appeared to confirm at least part of the report, saying gunmen opened fire on police stations, causing casualties among security officials.

The decision to mobilize his unit against the most serious threats to the Assad regime could be a sign of concern about the loyalty of regular conscripts.

 “We don’t expect the inflow to end rapidly. The news we are hearing is that there are more people waiting to get in on the other side,” said UNHCR spokesman Metin Corabatir.