'Over 100 killed in Syria violence'

Syrian anti-government protesters (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/191655.html

Human rights activists say over 100 people have been killed and several others injured across Syria as President Bashar al-Assad vows to foil plots to divide the country.

"One hundred civilians were killed on Sunday in Hama by gunfire from security forces who accompanied the army as it stormed the city," AFP quoted Abdel Karim Rihawi, head of the Syrian League for the Defense of Human Rights as saying.

Activists further claimed that a number of other people have also been killed in several other cities.

This comes as al-Assad said in a Sunday interview to commemorate the 66th anniversary of the Syrian army's foundation that Syria will thwart what he dubs a new chapter of conspiracy, which aims to divide the country as a prelude to splitting the whole region.

Meanwhile, according to the Syrian State News Agency (SANA), six military officers were killed on Sunday by armed men in the northeastern city of Deir Ezzor and central city of Hama. It has further reported that scores of gunmen have been seen on rooftops shooting at people.

Additionally, the armed gangs have attacked several police stations in both cities and set up roadblocks and barricades there.

They have also stolen weapons and ammunitions from the police stations.

Damascus says it has deployed troops in the region to hunt down the armed gangs.

Syria has been experiencing unrest over the past months, with demonstrations held both against and in support of the country's President Bashar al-Assad.

The opposition accuses security forces of being behind the deaths of those killed during the violence. But, the government blames armed gangs for the deadly violence, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.