Soldiers killed in Syria bus attack

Six soldiers were killed and another six were injured when a bus carrying troops on a road south of the Syrian capital Damascus was ambushed by “terrorists”, the country’s state-run news agency said.

SANA said an explosive device was detonated by remote control as the bus was travelling in the suburb of Sahnaya, about 12 miles south of the capital, today.

Those killed included two first lieutenants, SANA added.

The violence came as the uprising against president Bashar Assad continued to become increasingly militarised as some frustrated protesters and army defectors arm themselves against the regime.

Pro-regime forces yesterday battled defectors in suburbs on the eastern edge of Damascus in the most intense fighting yet so close to the capital.

Also yesterday, the Arab League halted its observer mission in Syria due to escalating violence that killed nearly 100 people over three days.