Forces deploy in Syria’s Homs city, residents defiant

AMMAN,  (Reuters) – Plain clothes security forces  toting Ak-47s deployed in Homs overnight, a witness said yesterday, as the central Syrian city defied a crackdown  following the killing of 21 pro-democracy protesters this week.

Residents, expecting more attacks from gunmen loyal to  President Bashar al-Assad known as “al-shabbiha”, have organised  into unarmed groups to guard neighbourhoods, said the witness,  who reached Homs after going through two road blocks manned by  security police.

“The atmosphere is tense. Another  day of