Syria says soldier shot dead in coastal city

Syria's state news agency said snipers killed a soldier on Thursday in the coastal city of Banias, where authorities had been trying to ease tensions after protests against President Bashar al-Assad.

Rights campaigners had said authorities had agreed to replace secret police in Banias with army patrols as part of a deal to reduce tension in the restive city. The agency quoted a source saying "a group of armed snipers shot today a number of army members while they patrolled the city of Banias... One was martyred and another wounded". (Reuters)