Syrian army takes control of volatile area

Syrian troops (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/194226.html

The Syrian army has taken control of almost the entire volatile Ramel neighborhood of the northwestern city of Latakia after the surrender of many members of the armed gangs in the area.

Clashes will continue to erupt in the area, although on a more limited scale, as a number of the gangs still remain in Ramel, a Press TV correspondent reported on Tuesday.

Many leaders of the armed gangs and blacklisted criminals have been arrested and a large supply of various weapons and explosives, including dynamites, has been seized.

On Monday, two Syrian troops were killed and 52 others injured during clashes in the area.

Syria has been grappling with months of unrest that has left scores of people dead so far.

The opposition accuses security forces of being behind the killings. But the Syrian government blames armed gangs for the violence, saying that the unrest is being orchestrated from outside the country.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to bring the people responsible for the killings to justice.