Syrian force surround town after defections

An armoured Syrian force surrounded a town north of Homs on Monday after the defection of tens of soldiers from the area, activists and residents said, in the latest operation to counter dissent within the military during a five month uprising.

At least 40 light tanks and armoured vehicles, and 20 buses full of troops and Military Intelligence, deployed at 5:30 a.m. at the highway entrance of Rastan, 20 km (12 miles)north of the city of Homs and began firing heavy machineguns at the town (Reuters).