By: bbc.com

Date: June 06, 2011

Excerpt:

Syrian state TV is reporting the deaths of at least 120 security personnel in battles with hundreds of gunmen in the north-western town of Jisr al-Shughour.

More than 80 of the deaths were said to have happened when the security headquarters in the town was overrun.

Communications are largely cut off and there has been little information from the protesters’ side about the unrest.

If confirmed, it would be the deadliest day for the security forces since anti-government protests began in mid-March.

The reports came a day after human rights activists said at least 35 residents and police had been killed in Jisr al-Shughour.

The government launched a crackdown on Saturday, following demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad after Friday prayers.

 

‘Terrorised citizens’

On Friday evening, Information Minister Adnan Mahmoud admitted the security forces had “intermittently” lost control of areas around Jisr al-Shughour, which lies about 20km (12 miles) from the Turkish border.

Earlier, in a dramatic series of urgent flashes, state TV said hundreds of gunmen who took over the town had committed “a real massacre”.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13672725