AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian troops fought army deserters near a southern town overnight following the killing of at least three protesters demonstrating against the arrest of a popular cleric, residents and activists said on Wednesday.
In the latest desertions among conscripts opposed to a military crackdown against months of pro-democracy protests, at least 20 soldiers left their outposts around the town of Hirak, 80 km (50 miles) south of Damascus and clashed with President Bashar al-Assad's forces, they said.
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