Syria arrests hundreds, shells Deraa

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AMMAN, May 2 (Reuters): Security forces arrested hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators in cities across Syria after taking control of the city of Deraa, cradle of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's autocratic rule. Looking for men under 40 years old, security forces broke into houses on Sunday in the old quarter of Deraa that a tank-backed force led by Assad's brother Maher shelled into submission the day before, witnesses told Reuters by telephone. The state news agency SANA said on Monday army units tracked down "terrorist groups that have terrorized civilians (in Deraa)...and killed 10 of its members and arrested 499 of them." SANA quoted an army source as saying that in addition to the 10 dead, security forces also killed five snipers who were shooting at pedestrians. The source told SANA that two members of the security forces were also killed in clashes. Syrian protesters deny that they have weapons and are using them in the unrest, targeting 48 years of Baath Party domination in Syria and inspired by other popular Arab revolts that have overthrown the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt this year. Prominent rights campaigners were also arrested in the eastern cities of Qamishli, Raqqa and in suburbs of Damascus, along with scores of ordinary Syrians active in the mass protests demanding political freedoms and an end to corruption.