25 Syrians shot dead in southern town of Daraa

DAMASCUS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- At least 25 Syrians were shot dead by troops and security forces on Monday in the town of Daraa, 100 km to the capital Damascus, pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV reported.

Hundreds of troops and security forces backed with tanks and armored vehicles entered the town Monday morning from four directions. The telecommunication and electricity were cut, an eyewitness was quoted by al-Jazeera as saying.

State-run al-Ekhbaria TV reported that 10 soldiers were killed in an ambush set by an armed group while army troops were entering the town to impose stability.

Meanwhile, a Jordanian senior official said that Syria closed two main border crossings at Daraa and Nassib on the Syrian side, following the deployment of Syrian army tanks in Daraa.

The statement was denied by the Syrian Interior Ministry which told Xinhua that border crossings with all Syria's neighboring states were open as the transit traffic to and from the country is normal.

The U.S President Barak Obama's administration slammed on Monday the Syrian authorities' crack down on citizens, saying it was considering a range of options against the Damascus, including possible sanctions on senior officials.

Syria is witnessing unprecedented protests that erupted five weeks ago in Daraa and spread into other parts of the country, causing the death of some 340 so far according to human rights reports.


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