DAMASCUS, June 6 (Xinhua) — Armed groups killed 80 policemen on Monday in Jisr al-Shughour in Idleb province in northeastern Syria, the SANA news agency reported.
The policemen were on their way to Jisr al-Shughour to appease unrest when they were ambushed, SANA said.
It said that other 37 security agents were killed when the armed groups attacked a security center in Jisr al-Shugour.
It added that eight guards of the Mail Center in the area were also killed by an attack carried out by gunmen who blew up the center.
The armed groups have stolen five tones of dynamites from Sad Wadi Abyadh area in Jisr al-Shughour, SANA said, adding that they have attacked a place that keeps the dynamites, destroyed its walls and stole the explosives.
According to SANA, hundreds of gunmen have attacked a number of government buildings, killing three guards and burning down many other buildings.
Security reinforcements have reached the area to protect civilians, SANA said, adding that security agents and policemen have sealed off some houses in which the gunmen have been entrenching to open fire at civilians and soldiers.
Syria has been engulfed with a wave of protests since March 15 which called for reforms and more freedom in the country.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had initially responded to the country’s unprecedented anti-government protests by offering some concessions, including lifting the state of emergency in place since 1963, releasing hundreds of political detainees and reshuffling the government.
