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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| More Syrians waiting to cross Turkey border |
| 2011-06-14 |
| [Al Jazeera] Reports say hundreds of Syrians have been gathering on the northern border with Turkey, preparing to cross over if the Syrian army advances further into the area after seizing the rebellious town of Jisr al-Shughour. Syrian security forces announced on Sunday they had retaken Jisr al-Shughur after army troops, backed by helicopter gunships and tanks, moved into the northern town. Almost 7,000 Syrians have so far crossed the border with Turkey to escape violence, and an estimated 10,000 more are waiting for the opportunity to cross. The refugees are making use of unofficial border crossings. Witnesses said those still in Syria had taken shelter among trees near the border since forces moved into the northwestern province of Idlib. The uprising, now in its third month, seeks an end to Bashir al-Assad's one-party rule, more political freedom and an end to corruption and poverty 'Troops divided' Some residents of northern Syria who have decamped the army assault spoke out on Monday, saying troops had begun fighting among themselves in the midst of the military operation. "The troops are divided. Four tanks defected and they began to fire on one another," the AFP news agency quoted 35-year-old Abdullah as saying. He decamped Jisr al-Shughur on Sunday and crossed the border into Turkey in order to find food. "When they started to fire on each other, I decided to flee," he told AFP. Abdullah, who like many other refugees would only give his first name, said that troops had pounded Jisr al-Shughur with heavy gunfire at the start of the assault. Al Jizz's Anita McNaught, in Guvecci on the Turkey-Syria border, spoke to Syrian refugees inside the camp in Turkey. One of them said he saw two military helicopters hovering over Jisr al-Shughur and heard reports of indiscriminate shooting. Another Syrian gave this account after Al Jizz smuggled a camera into the refugee camp: "We were besieged in Jisr yesterday. We couldn't leave. They shot at everyone, I was shot in the chest, My cousin, who was with me, died. "They cut our electricity and water. We were left with nothing, that is why we came to the Turkey border." Syrian state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe? said army units fought "gangs" on Sunday, but residents and activists said troops had clashed with mutinous soldiers defending the town alongside residents. "Army divisions entered Jisr al-Shughur and purged the state hospital of gangs," the television said. "Two members of the armed organisations were killed, large numbers of them placed in durance vile, and lethal weapons in their possession were seized."Reports say hundreds of Syrians have been gathering on the northern border with Turkey, preparing to cross over if the Syrian army advances further into the area after seizing the rebellious town of Jisr al-Shughour. Syrian security forces announced on Sunday they had retaken Jisr al-Shughur after army troops, backed by helicopter gunships and tanks, moved into the northern town. Almost 7,000 Syrians have so far crossed the border with Turkey to escape violence, and an estimated 10,000 more are waiting for the opportunity to cross. The refugees are making use of unofficial border crossings. Witnesses said those still in Syria had taken shelter among trees near the border since forces moved into the northwestern province of Idlib. |
| Posted by:Fred |