Syrian forces kill 4 defecting soldiers - activists

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Four Syrian soldiers were shot dead on Monday as they tried to escape a military camp and troops sealed off towns in a continuing crackdown on opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, activists said.

The military campaign has focused on towns and villages north of the city of Homs, where increasing numbers of defectors have been organising and mounting guerrilla raids on roadblocks manned by troops and gunmen loyal to Assad.