Activists say 20 dead in Syria violence
Deadly clashes erupted between government troops and rebels in suburbs of the Syrian capital and villages in the country's south Friday in fresh violence that killed at least 20 people, including nine soldiers, activists said.
President Bashar Assad is trying to crush the 11-month-old uprising against his rule with a sweeping crackdown. Human Rights Watch said in a new report released Friday that in its bid to snuff out the revolt, the regime has detained and tortured children as young as 13. (AP)
