‘Hundreds arrested’ as Syrian troops storm Damascus suburb

Forces were said to have forced their way into the suburb of Saqba during the night, broke into houses and arrested about 300 people.

Witnesses also said that tanks and troops were sent to other anti-government demonstrations in Homs and Hama.

While information remains scarce due to a ban on foreign journalists entering the country, amateur footage and blogs from inside Syria showed continuing clashes between forces and anti-Government protests.

The suburb of Deraya was reportedly still under siege, but some 300 protesters defied the security forces to stage a brief rally calling for freedom

Also in Damascus at least 30 people were arrested in the district of Taly, including some men in their 70s or 80s.

The moves come despite appeals from the United Nations for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to end the violence against protesters.

The violence appears to be failing to deter rebels, as they prepare to stage what they called a “Day of Defiance” today.

At least 500 people are estimated to have lost their lives in the past seven weeks ago since anti-regime protests began in the country.

A further 2,500 others are said to have been detained, although some Human Rights groups say the figure could be much higher.

Deraa, the southern city where the protests began in March, has been under siege for the last 10 days.

However army units have begun to withdraw, according to a Syrian military official speaking to the country’s official state news agency Sana.

The military official said the army had completed its mission to “chase elements of terrorist groups... and to restore security, peace and stability”.

Since the weekend, almost 1,000 men have reportedly been rounded up in Deraa alone. Rights groups say that security officials conduct house-to-house raids, carrying lists of wanted people. If they do not find those listed, they arrest relatives instead.

Troops have cut off electricity and telephone services, and snipers have fired at residents who ventured outdoors.

There were also reports that security forces shot at rooftop water tanks, a vital supply of water in the bone-dry region.

About 50 people have been reported killed in Deraa violence over the past 10 days.

The uprising has formed part of the so-called Arab Spring, pro-democracy demonstrations across the Middle East and Africa.