Syria protesters given surrender ultimatum

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DAMASCUS: The Syrian authorities on Monday set a deadline of 15 days for people who had committed "unlawful acts" to surrender, as 180 people were rounded up in the latest wave of arrests.

The ultimatum came as activists planned fresh anti-government demonstrations following the deaths of dozens of people in weekend protests.

In a statement, the interior ministry told "citizens who have participated in or committed unlawful acts such as bearing arms, attacking security or spreading lies to surrender by May 15 and hand their weapons in to the competent authorities."

It urged Syrians to "supply information about saboteurs, terrorists and arms caches" pledging "they will be spared any subsequent legal consequences."

A military spokesman on Monday announced the arrest of 499 people in the southern flashpoint town of Daraa, a week after thousands of troops backed by tanks swooped on the town to crush protests.

The spokesman also announced the deaths of two members of the security forces "as well as 10 terrorists." Eight soldiers were wounded and five gunmen waiting in ambush were arrested, the military added.

Security forces and the army continue to "pursue terrorist groups and have arrested members of these groups who committed crimes and acts of sabotage in the city" of Daraa, state news agency SANA reported.

Quoting a military official it said large quantities of arms and ammunition were found hidden in various places in Daraa.

Meanwhile President Bashar al-Assad met visiting UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and told him "measures are being taken to overcome the current situation and strengthen the process of reforms in all fields," SANA said.

According to the opposition Syrian Revolution 2011 website, security forces at dawn on Monday entered the Kafar Nubbol area, 320 kilometres (200 miles) north of Damascus, and took over houses and arrested 26 people.

Raids were also carried out at dawn in Zabadani and Madaya, two summer resorts northwest of Damascus, where security forces arrested 147 people, the rights group Insan said. (AFP)