Syrian town of Rastan 'surrounded by tanks'

 Syrian tanks and armoured vehicles have surrounded the town of Rastan, north of Homs, which has been the site of anti-regime dissent, activists say.

    Residents reported heavy machine gun fire by security forces at the entrance to the town.
Most foreign journalists have been barred from Syria, making it difficult to verify reports from the country.
The UN says more than 2,200 people have died since protests against President Bashar al-Assad began in March.
Rastan has been caught up in the protests taking place across the country and correspondents say that dissent has continued there despite harsh repression.
"The tanks deployed at both banks of the highway, which remained open, and fired long bursts from their machine guns at Rastan," one resident told Reuters news agency by phone.
Unconfirmed reports from activists say that the latest move was prompted by defections among Syrian troops in the area, the agency reports.
It was announced on Sunday that Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi is due to visit Syria to try to resolve the crisis in the country.

Posted in: mid-east