THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Hundreds of men and boys took to the Syrian hills around the beleaguered town of Jisr al-Shughour, fleeing the scorched earth tactics of the Assad regime's tanks and militias.
More than 10,000 Syrians have fled the violent repression of opposition led by President Bashar al-Assad and his brother, Maher, the United Nations said.
But many more are playing a dangerous cat-and-mouse game with the armies on both sides of the border as they seek refuge as well as food and supplies for their families.
Reports from the town of Jisr al-Shughour, which was recaptured by Syrian forces on Sunday, said 16 bodies had been found during the course of the day.
That suggested that government claims of the city having been taken over by "armed gangs" who fought a vicious rearguard action against the advancing army were an exaggeration.
Opposition spokesmen said hundreds of unarmed local men were rounded up and arrested during the operation, and those who tried to flee shot. » | Andrew Osborn, on the Syrian-Turkish border and Richard Spencer | Monday, June 13, 2011
