Syrian troops force insurgents to retreat from key town of Rastan
In a blow to dissidents, Syrian forces loyal to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad regained control of the central town of Rastan after military defectors and insurgents took over the city weeks ago.
In this citizen journalism image made on a mobile phone and provide by Homs Quarters Union, an anti- Syrian President Bashar Assad protester, holds up a red heart with Arabic word reading: "the freedom," during a demonstration against the Syrian regime, in Homs province, Syria, on Friday. Troops then overpowered other demonstrators in the town of Rastan on Saturday.
Homs Quarters Union/AP
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Syrian forces overpowered military defectors fighting against the regime in the central town of Rastan, moving into and controlling the city after five days of fighting.
The development is a blow to Syrian dissidents who have recently turned to force in their struggle against the Syrian regime after nearly seven months of peaceful protests were met repeatedly with violence by the government. More than 2,700 people have so far been killed, according to the United Nations.
The fledgling armed movement was bolstered by defections from the Syrian army, and in Rastan, protesters and armed insurgent forces had controlled the city for weeks. But the Washington Post reports that Syrian forces regained control of the city Saturday.
The fighting began with a government assault Tuesday, and activists said 250 tanks entered the city Friday, reports the Post. Residents stayed in their homes because of the heavy fighting, and phone lines to Rastan were cut Saturday.
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The military defectors who joined the protesters announced their withdrawal from Rastan Friday night in a statement, reports Agence France-Presse. "Because of major reinforcements and the weapons used in Rastan by [President Bashar] al-Assad's gangs... we have decided to withdraw in order to better wage the struggle for liberty," the statement said, according to AFP.
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