07/06/2011 11:18
At least 120 security personnel killed in unrests in Syria
Deaths of at least 120 security personnel in battles with hundreds of gunmen in the north-western town of Jisr al-Shughour, the BBC writes referring to the Syrian state TV.
A report said the fighting had begun at dawn, when an armed gang ambushed police as they approached the town "to rescue citizens being terrorised". Twenty officers reportedly died.
Many government buildings were attacked and burned, causing further casualties, it added. The overall death toll for security forces was put at 120.
Communications are largely cut off and there has been little information from the protesters' side about the unrest. The reports came a day after human rights activists said at least 35 residents and police had been killed in Jisr al-Shughour.