Syrian faceoff
Security forces massed Sunday near a key town in eastern Syria where dozens of soldiers have defected to join the four-month-old uprising against the government of President Bashar Assad, according to activists and residents there.
At least 1,000 troops, some backed by tanks and others flown in on helicopters, descended on the town, Albokamal, near the border with Iraq.
The forces surrounded the town and appeared to be preparing for a major military operation to quell dissent there, residents said. Al-Watan, a pro-government newspaper, called the situation "explosive."
'RAGE' IN YEMEN
Sunday was the 33rd anniversary of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's rule, dubbed a "day of rage" by anti-government protesters, tens of thousands of whom turned out across the country. Saleh is recuperating in Saudi Arabia from bombing injuries.
LIBYA FIGHTING
NATO jets destroyed a military storage facility and other targets on the eastern outskirts of Tripoli, Libya's capital, and rebel attacks on the eastern oil city of Brega stretched into their fourth day, with reports of pitched battles in residential areas.
NEWS SERVICES
