Syria Stops Aid Convoy

Boys remove debris from houses that residents say were damaged during a military crackdown on antigovernment protesters in Talbiseh, Syria.

Syria’s border guards have turned away a convoy of about 200 Syrian and foreign activists who were trying to enter the country.

The activists from Freedom Convoy drove to the border through Turkey on January 12, carrying relief supplies of blankets, medicine, and food.

Activists said Turkish authorities have been very cooperative in their mission.

According to United Nations estimates, more than 5,000 people have been killed since the unrest began in Syria in March.

Turkey has called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down and imposed sanctions on Damascus.

compiled from agency reports