Syrian forces recapture rebel stronghold of Idlib

New York-based Human Rights Watch said troops have planted land mines near its borders with Turkey and Lebanon along routes used by people fleeing the violence and trying to reach safety in neighboring countries. HRW said its report was based on accounts from witnesses and Syrian deminers and that the land mines have already caused civilian casualties.

Fresh from a monthlong campaign that drove rebels out of another key base in central Homs,Syrian forces launched a siege on the city of Idlib three days ago. The city largely had been under control of hundreds of fighters for the rebel Free Syrian Army.

The Al-Watan daily and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government troops were in control of Idlib on Tuesday. The Observatory said the army was still facing some resistance pockets in three Idlib areas,including the central neighbourhoods of Dubait and Bustan Ghanoum.

Meanwhile,Syrian President Bashar al-Assad announced Tuesday a May 7 parliamentary election. The announcement came as UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan said he was expecting a response from Assad to “concrete proposals” to halt Syria’s bloodshed and Russia stepped in with a proposal for international observers. SANA said Assad,who had proposed a programme of reforms,had set May 7 as the date for legislative elections under a new constitution passed in a February referendum.