Syrians flee northern town

Syrians flee northern town

 Tanks deployed in east

A Syrian girl smiles as she stands behind the border fence with

a group of women waiting to cross into Turkey from Syria, near

the Turkish village of Guvecci, 50 km from Hatay city centre,

on Wednesday. More than 8,500 Syrians have already fled

to neighbo

          Thousands of Syrians fled the historic town of Maarat al-Numaan to escape troops and tanks thrusting into the north in a widening military campaign to crush protests against president Bashar al-Assad.

          In the tribal east, where Syria’s 3,80,000 barrels per day of oil is produced, tanks and armoured vehicles deployed in the city of Deir al-Zor and around Albu Kamal on the border with Iraq, a week after tens of thousands of people took to the streets demanding an end to Assad’s autocratic rule.

          Witnesses said residents assisted by deserting security forces had attacked a police compound in Jisr al-Shughour 10 days ago after police killed 48 civilians. About 60 police, including 20 deserters, were killed.

          A statement issued after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday also said Syria’s Red Crescent aid organization would coordinate with Turkey ‘to facilitate the return of Syrian citizens.’

          More than 8,500 Syrians have sought sanctuary in Turkey, which has set up four refugee camps across the border from Jisr al-Shughour.

          A Turkish Red Crescent official, who requested anonymity, said more tent camps were being prepared at the eastern end of the 800 km border, near the Turkish city of Mardin, far from where the current influx of refugees is concentrated.