Report: Syrian forces kill six villagers near Hama

Syrian forces shot dead six villagers when they stormed a town in the countryside near the city of Hama looking for army defectors and seeking to prevent regular pro-democracy demonstrations after Friday prayers, local activists said.

"They raided Hilfaya at 6:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) with troops and security police descending from buses and trucks equipped with machineguns," one of the activists told Reuters by phone. (Reuters)