Syria army shells Damascus and suburbs

The Syrian army on Monday sent shells slamming into rebel strongholds in Damascus province, where more than 45 people, including 36 civilians, have been killed in the past 48 hours, a watchdog said.

The shelling began before dawn and targeted Assali, Nahar Aisha and Qadam -- all southern districts of Damascus -- as well Irbin, Al Tal and New Artuz outside the capital, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Meanwhile, clashes broke out in the rebel bastion of Harasta, northeast of Damascus.

In the capital, security forces carried out raids and arrests in the neighbourhoods of Qaimreya, Qashla and Shaghur, the Observatory said.

The Local Coordination Committees, a network of activists on the ground, meanwhile said raids had taken place in Shaghur, where they reported "security sweeps of stores and security forces breaking down the doors of shops which had been closed."

In the Old City of Damascus, the LLC reported "a campaign of raids and arrests by the armed forces."

On Sunday, 150 people died across Syria, according to the Observatory. The majority were in Damascus province, where 26 civilians and seven rebels were killed.

The Observatory reported another 10 civilians and two rebels killed in Damascus province on Monday, plus four civilians in the southern city of Daraa.

In central Homs city, 16 civilians were killed by army gunfire in the neighbourhood of Shamas alone on Sunday, the Observatory said.

The opposition Syrian National Council and activist groups on Sunday charged that pro-government militia summarily executed 10 civilians during a round-up in the Shamas neighbourhood.

The Observatory confirmed that pro-government forces carried out a round-up in the district, but made no mention of any executions.

More than 21,000 people have been killed across Syria since the anti-regime revolt broke out 17 months ago, according to the watchdog. The toll is impossible to verify, and the United Nations has stopped maintaining an independent count.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.