BICOM

Six civilians were killed by Syrian security forces in the southern Syrian city of Deraa yesterday, as troops launched an attack on the Omari mosque in the city, which has emerged as a centre for protesters in recent days. Among the dead was a doctor from a prominent Deraa family, who had gone to the mosque to treat those wounded in earlier attacks by the security forces. The attack on the mosque came just after midnight. Electricity and telephone services in the area were cut off before the troops entered the mosque. The attack brings the total of those killed in Deraa since protests erupted at the end of last week to ten. The authorities have also rounded up a number of known dissidents in various parts of the country.

Israeli media reports this morning noted concerns by some Israeli security officials that the Syrian regime might wish to orchestrate a crisis with Israel, in order to divert attention from the current unrest. However, in the past, the Assad regime has been careful to avoid frontal clashes with Israel, preferring to maintain pressure through the use of proxy forces.

Following this most recent incident, protests in Syria have now been reported in a number of villages and towns surrounding Deraa.