Syria’s foreign ministry has denied government troops were behind an attack on a string of villages that left more than 90 people dead.

Chanting crowds of anti-regime protesters in rebellious Damascus suburbs have welcomed United Nations observers monitoring the shaky cease-fire.

Activists said Syrian forces attacked two towns today as a deadline passed for President Bashar Assad’s troops to start withdrawing from populated areas under an internationally brokered truce deal.

Syrian artillery pounded the rebel city of Rastan yesterday, killing seven civilians, monitors said.

FRANCE recalled its ambassador to Damascus as Syrian President Bashar Assad came under increasing pressure from home and abroad, with army defectors killing at least eight soldiers in a daring attack on the military.

Syrian army defectors have launched attacks on president Bashar Assad’s military targets near the capital Damascus.

SYRIAN forces shot dead 20 protesters despite a pledge by President Bashar al-Assad that a crackdown was over, activists said as thousands marched across Syria, spurred on by US and European calls for him to step down.

Syrian security forces have fired on thousands of protesters who poured into the streets throughout the country killing at least 10 people, activists say.

Syrian troops backed by tanks and firing heavy machine guns swept into a village near the Turkish border today as the army intensified operations in the northwest where their have been heavy clashes between loyalist troops and defectors.

Syrian security forces have shot dead eight people – including a 16-year-old boy – during anti-government protests, reports say.