President's brother sends his troops into Syrian suburbs

LOYALIST troops commanded by Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's brother surrounded a suburb in the capital Damascus yesterday, residents said, part of a campaign to crush growing protests against Assad's rule.

Troops and militiamen also stepped up assaults on residential neighbourhoods in the city of Homs, another focal point for the protests where activists say forces killed at least 16 people on Tuesday.

"Hundreds of Fourth Division troops have sealed off all of Harasta's dozen entrances," said a resident of the conservative Damascus suburb of 150,000 people.

"They are wearing combat fatigues, helmets, ammunition belts and carrying assault rifles. Water, electricity and phones have been cut."

The resident, who works as an engineer and managed to leave Harasta, said by telephone that troops had arrested tens of people.

Activists say hundreds are arrested across Syria every day, with more than 12,000 detained since the uprising against Mr Assad's rule autocratic rule began four months ago.

Street demonstrations have spread from outlying towns and rural areas to major cities, despite the military assaults.

But a heavy security presence in Syria's largest city and commercial hub, Aleppo, and in central districts of Damascus have prevented any large protests.

The Fourth Division, under the direct command of Maher al-Assad, is drawn mostly from Syria's minority Alawite sect.

Mr Assad has said the uprising is a foreign conspiracy to sow sectarian strife. His opponents argue that the president has played on sectarian fears to maintain Alawite support and keep power for his family, also Alawites, which has ruled Syria for 41 years.

Alawite officers hold leading positions in the largely Sunni armed forces.