Damascus, Apr 26 (IANS): At least 25 Syrians were shot dead by security forces Monday in Daraa town, 100 km from capital Damascus, Xinhua cited Al-Jazeera TV in a report.
Hundreds of military soldiers and other security forces backed with tanks and armoured vehicles entered the town Monday morning from four directions. The telecommunication and electricity were cut, said a witness.
At least 10 soldiers were killed in an ambush set by an armed group when army soldiers were entering the town to impose stability.
Meanwhile, a Jordanian senior official said that Syria closed two main border crossings at Daraa and Nassib on the Syrian side, following the deployment of Syrian army tanks in Daraa.
The statement, however, was declined by the Syrian interior ministry, as it told Xinhua that the border crossings with all Syria's neighbouring states were open as the transit traffic to and from the country is normal.
US President Barack Obama's administration has slammed the Syrian authorities' crackdown on citizens, saying it was considering a range of options against the Damascus, including possible sanctions on senior officials.
Syria is witnessing unprecedented protests that erupted five weeks ago in Daraa and spread to other parts of the country, causing the death of some 340 so far, said human rights reports.