5 dead as Syrian troops sweep into Daraa

Rights activists said a 3,000-strong military force swarmed into Daraa in the early hours of Monday, with tanks taking up positions in the town centre and snipers deploying on rooftops. -- PHOTO: AFP

NICOSIA - AT LEAST five people were killed when thousands of troops backed by heavy armour swept into Syria's southern flashpoint town Daraa on Monday, a witness told AFP by telephone.

'We saw with our own eyes, they were in a car that was riddled with bullets,' the witness said, adding that he was on a roof and could hear intense gunfire reverberating across the town.

'The minarets of the mosques are appealing for help. The security forces are entering houses. There is a curfew and they fire on those who leave their homes. They even shot at water tanks on roofs to deprive people of water.'

Rights activists said a 3,000-strong military force swarmed into Daraa in the early hours of Monday, with tanks taking up positions in the town centre and snipers deploying on rooftops.

The activists said they were not able to count the casualties as the snipers made it impossible to reach them.

'Bodies are lying in the streets and we can't recover them,' one activist said. -- AFP