Syrian soldiers seal off key port after protests

shots rang out after the Syrian army sealed off the key port city of Banias yesterday where anti-government protesters turn out, undaunted by the regime’s use of deadly force to quell more than three weeks of unrest.

By The Newsroom

Published 11th Apr 2011, 09:33 BST

Human rights groups said there were casualties, but the reports were not immediately confirmed. Syrian state-run television reported that a police officer was killed in an ambush by thugs near Banias, which is 185 miles north-west of the capital, Damascus.

Details were sketchy because telephone lines, internet access and electricity apparently were cut in the area. Army tanks and soldiers circled the city, preventing people from entering.

Protests erupted in Syria more than three weeks ago and have been growing steadily every week, with tens of thousands of people calling for sweeping reforms in President Bashar Assad’s authoritarian regime.

More than 170 people have been killed.

The government blames the violence on armed gangs rather than true reform-seekers and has vowed to crush further unrest.