Thousands of elite troops led by President Bashar Assad's brother converged Wednesday on a restive northern area, and neighboring villages called to warn that the convoys of tanks were approaching, a resident and a Syrian activist said.
Convoys of Syrian tanks and elite troops led by President Bashar Assad's brother were heading Wednesday to a restive northern area where soldiers reportedly joined an anti-government uprising, a Syrian activist said, citing witnesses.
Syrian President Bashar Assad acknowledged that his security forces made mistakes in the deadly crackdown on protesters but suggested Wednesday that the current "crisis" was nearing its end even as attacks raged.
Syria's president said the country's security forces have made mistakes during the uprising against his regime, blaming poorly trained police officers at least in part for a crackdown that has killed more than 850 people over the past two months.
Syrian security forces arrested hundreds of activists and anti-government protesters in house-to-house raids across the country Monday, part of an escalating government crackdown aimed at stamping out a revolt engulfing the country.
