Tuesday's raids led some parents to keep their children home
from school in areas near the capital out of fear for their safety as armored
vehicles took up positions and soldiers made sweeping arrests, said Rami
Abdul-Rahman of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which
has a wide network of sources on the ground.
Other bloodshed was reported in the central city of Homs, a
hotbed of opposition to the regime of President Bashar Assad.
Syria has banned foreign reporters and restricted local
coverage, making it difficult to independently confirm witness accounts. The UN
says more than 3,000 people have been killed since the uprising began in
mid-March.
Syria's fragmented opposition has been trying to join forces
under the umbrella of a Syrian National Council to form a united front against
Assad, whose family has ruled Syria for more than four decades.
On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said he
had met members of the council in Ankara late Monday and advised the group to work
toward democratic change in Syria "in a peaceful manner." The meeting
was the first formal contact with the opposition group.
"Unfortunately, despite all our urgings the killings
are continuing," Davutoglu said. "It is natural for us to meet with
all parties." Davutoglu also condemned the killing of Syrian human rights
activist Ziad Al-Obeidi during his meeting, said a Turkish foreign ministry
official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with ministry regulations.
The Syrian National Council, a broad-based opposition
umbrella group, was formed in Istanbul in September. No country has recognized
it so far as a legal representative of the country. Syria has threatened tough
measures against any country that does.