Report: Syrian forces kill 21 civilians, 5 deserters

Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad killed 21 civilians and five army deserters on Tuesday in a military crackdown on an eight-month uprising against his rule, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Among those killed were four children shot dead by troops near a school in the central region of Houla and a 12-year-old killed at a protest in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor, said the group, which is led by exiled dissident Rami Abdelrahman. (Reuters)