Syrian tanks circle town as unrest continues

SYRIAN tanks surrounded a town near the border with Iraq’s Sunni heartland yesterday after tens of thousands, emboldened by defections among security forces, took to the streets there denouncing President Bashar al-Assad, residents said.

Elsewhere in the Arab world, unrest is continuing in Yemen and Tunisia, while Shi’ites pulled out of reconciliation talks in Bahrain.

Returning to Syria, Assad — from the minority Alawite sect — has sent troops into towns across the country to try to end four months of protests against his rule. But activists say discontent is growing within the mostly Sunni army rank and file.