Damascus, May 14, (RHC), -- At least 23 Syrian security forces have been killed in violent clashes with armed groups in the northern city of Rastan on Monday, opposition activists say.

According to reports, dozens of others were also injured in the early morning violence on the outskirts of Rastan, in the province of Homs.

Three troop carriers were also destroyed in the fighting, the group added.

Meanwhile, armed groups also killed two officers in the capital, Damascus, and the southern city of Dara'a.

The increasing violence comes despite a ceasefire declared by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan a month ago, and the presence of 189 UN observers in Syria to monitor the truce.
 
Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011 and many people, including security forces, have been killed in the unrest.

While the West and the Syrian opposition accuse the government of the killings, Damascus blames ''outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups'' for the unrest, insisting that it is being orchestrated from abroad. /PRESSTV

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