Syrian troops 'kill at least 100'

Syrian troops have killed at least 100 people in one of the deadliest incidents since the uprising against President Bashar Assad’s regime began, activists said today.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the killings were in the town of Kfar Owaid in the north-western province of Idlib on Tuesday. It said 111 people died.

The Local Co-ordination Committees, another activist group, says more than 100 people were killed in the town.

The two groups had earlier reported that regime troops attacked the town with heavy machine gun fire and shelling, killing dozens.

The UN says more than 5,000 people have been killed in the crackdown.

The reports come ahead of the arrival of an Arab League advance team to prepare for an observer mission.