Syrian president admits security errors

SYRIA’S president has said his security forces made mistakes during the uprising against his regime, blaming poorly-trained police officers for a crackdown that has killed more than 850 people in two months.

President Bashar Assad’s comments came as a human rights activist said Syrian troops used heavy machine guns to attack a neighbourhood in the central city of Homs. But his remarks were a rare acknowledgment of shortcomings within his powerful security agencies.

Mr Assad said thousands of police officers were receiving new training.