LOC12:52
09:52 GMT
AMMAN, Sept 5 (KUNA) -- At least six Syrian regime force members were killed in clashes with opposition forces in the vicinity of the towns of Kafrayya and Al-Fou'aa in Idlib Province late Friday, According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Right.
Meanwhile, the number of deaths in Al-Suwaidaa province explosions occurring yesterday tolled 26 while about 45 were injured, as announced by SANA News Agency on Saturday.
The observatory noted that Al-Suwaidaa in witnessing tension as people came out in demonstrations in front of several government buildings and smashed a statue of former Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad, in response to the attack that targeted and killed Sheikh Wahid Bal'ous, who is one of the Druze Sheikhs and known for his opposition to the Syrian regime and to the Islamists.
The demonstrators also burned cars, while gun shots were heard in the city amid promises by the elders and notables in Al-Suwaidaa to rectify the situation, the observatory noted.
It added that Bal'ous was assassinated by a car bomb that targeted him in Dahrat Al-Jabal, also killing three others including his brother.
Another explosion also rocked the National Hospital where Bal'ous was taken for treatment, while the third one occured at the road leading to Al-Qurayya town, south Al-Suwaidaa.
Bal'ous enjoyed a rising popularity in Swaida recently despite his outspoken criticism of the Syrian regime. His group was said to have been coordinating indirectly with rebels from the Free Syrian Army, which enjoys some sway in the adjacent city of Daraa.(end)
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