Amid Syrian Raids, Reports of Desertions

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Source: The New York Times

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Syrian security forces raided several towns and cities across Syria on Monday, in the latest assault to crush dissent against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, residents and activists said.

The operations, which included towns in western, northern and central Syria, killed at least six people and wounded dozens, they said.

At the same time, there were reports that dozens of soldiers, possibly encouraged by the rout in Libya of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, had deserted their positions in a village near Homs, the country’s third-largest city, and also on the outskirts of the capital, Damascus, to join the five-month-old popular uprising against Mr. Assad and his Baath Party.

Activists said that since the uprising started in mid-March, most such desertions have taken place in the eastern tribal area of Deir al-Zour, bordering Iraq; in the northwestern province of Idlib; and in towns around Homs and Damascus.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/world/middleeast/30syria.html