Syria defectors launch daring raid on intelligence base

The early morning raid on the air force intelligence base just outside Damascus was among the most spectacular carried out by the growing number of deserters from Assad8217;s largely conscript armed forces who have refused orders to open fire on civilian protesters.

The unprecedented movement against Assad8217;s 11-year rule has been spearheaded by peaceful demonstrators but in recent months the deserters have organised themselves into a Free Syrian Army that has inflicted growing losses on the regular armed forces.

8220;The Free Army struck with rockets and RPGs rocket-propelled grenades the headquarters of air force intelligence which is located at the entrance of Damascus,8221; the Local Coordination Committees,an activist network,said in a statement,adding that smoke was rising from the area.

Activists,who illustrated the three-pronged attack in a plan attached to their statement,said prisoners being detained at the intelligence branch 8220;were well8221; but the operation failed to secure their release.

There was no immediate word on any casualties in the attack.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the raid in an email received by AFP in Nicosia.

8220;Explosions shook Zamalkeh,Hamuriya,Douma,Harasta and we have confirmed reports that the headquarters of the security services in Harasta was hit,8221; the Britain-based watchdog said.

In Hama,a flashpoint central province,security forces shot dead four people 8212; three army defectors and one civilian 8212; in the rural town of Keferzita,the Observatory said.

And in the southern province of Daraa,cradle of the eight-month revolt against Assad8217;s regime,security forces killed a civilian at a checkpoint in the town of Hara,it said.

The violence came as Arab foreign ministers gathered in the Moroccan capital to ramp up the pressure on the Damascus authorities to honour the terms of an Arab League peace deal they signed up to on November 2.

Foreign ministers already agreed at a previous meeting in Cairo on Saturday to withdraw ambassadors from Damascus,impose political and economic sanctions,and open talks with opposition groups on their vision for a post-Assad Syria.

The peace blueprint called for the protection of civilians,the withdrawal of troops from towns and villages where there have been clashes,the release of those detained during the protests and the launch of negotiations with the opposition.

But human rights groups say the Syrian regime has instead intensified its crackdown,with more than 70 people dying on Monday alone in one of the bloodiest days of the unrest.