Syrian forces 'surround Damascus suburb' - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Syrian forces 'surround Damascus suburb' - Middle East - Al Jazeera English: "Troops commanded by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's brother have surrounded the Damascus suburb of Harasta, residents say.

The move appears to be part of an ongoing crackdown on urban centres that have experienced protests on a daily basis.

'Hundreds of Fourth Division troops have sealed off all of Harasta's dozen entrances,' a resident of the large suburb, who works as an engineer and managed to leave Harasta, told the Reuters news agency by telephone.

'They are wearing combat fatigues, helmets, ammunition belts and carrying assault rifles. Water, electricity and phones have been cut.'

Syrian troops also swept through the central city of Homs, arresting 'armed men' and confiscating 'stockpiles of weapons', the pro-government Al-Watan newspaper said on Wednesday."

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