12 killed as violence sweeps Syrian port city

Syria government has said 12 people were killed in violence in the port city of Latakia, which has been rocked by protests and unrest, yesterday.

The country's state-run news agency said unknown armed gangs had attacked neighbourhoods, firing guns from rooftops.

Anti-government protesters, meanwhile, accused government forces – which were deployed in Latakia yesterday – of opening fire on them.

Activists said some demonstrators burned tyres, attacked businesses and set fire to an office of the ruling Ba'ath party.

Dozens of people have been killed in a number of Syrian cities after protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime flared up more than a week ago.

Ten people, including members of the security forces, residents and two members of "armed elements" died in the Latakia violence, the state-run news agency said, adding that at least two people were killed by rooftop snipers. Around 200 others, mostly members of the security forces, were reported to have been injured.