Amman - Syrian forces shot dead six villagers when they stormed a town in the countryside near the city of Hama looking for army defectors and seeking to prevent regular pro-democracy demonstrations after Friday prayers, local activists said.
“They raided Hilfaya at 6.30am (03.30 GMT) with troops and security police descending from buses and trucks equipped with machineguns,” one of the activists told Reuters by phone.
“They stayed for two hours, firing at random to frighten the inhabitants. Among the six who were killed were two cousins from the al-Jammal family who were on their way to Hilfaya from the nearby village of Taybeh,” the activist said. - Reuters