Syrian Forces Raid Central City Of Homs

Activists say that Syrian troops have killed at least one civilian in overnight raids in the city of Homs.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 20 people were injured as residents tried to take shelter from armored vehicles firing machine guns on densely populated neighborhoods.

Residents said the raids were the heaviest since the military stormed the central city, Syria's third largest, two months ago to try to crush street protests against President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

Meanwhile, on July 10, the Syrian government said it has opened talks with opposition groups, but leading opposition figures and prominent activists are shunning the meetings.

The government's two-day round table in Damascus, dubbed "national dialogue," is being attended by top officials, including Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa, some intellectuals, and some less prominent opposition figures.

compiled from agency reports