Assad has faced down the mass protests, now in their fourth week, with force, pledges for reform and attempts to appease minority Kurds and conservative Sunnis. But the unprecedented calls for more freedoms have yet to abate.
The activists said Syrian secret police and soldiers had surrounded the town of Baida, 10 km (six miles) south of Banias, which security forces had sealed off on Sunday after pro-democracy protests and an attack by irregular forces loyal to Assad on people guarding a Sunni mosque.
Four people were killed in shootings later in the day, which has raised tensions in the mostly Sunni Muslim country ruled by minority Alawites, adherents to an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam.
One activist said some residents of Baida, which is near the Mediterranean coast, had weapons and it appeared that an armed confrontation had erupted.
A Banias resident who had been in touch with people in Baida said armored vehicles entered the town and soldiers "opened fire haphazardly," adding that young men were being dragged out of their homes and arrested.
One can only imagine what package of gifts our State Department is preparing to reward Bashar Assad for his restraint and commitment to reform!
