Five Syrian soldiers killed fighting 'defectors'

NICOSIA: Syrian soldiers on Monday fought gunmen suspected to be army defectors in the central province of Homs in clashes that left five troops dead, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told AFP.

"Five soldiers were killed and others wounded as a result of clashes pitting the army and security forces against gunmen believed to be defectors at a checkpoint near the town of Qurayn in Homs province," the Britain-based watchdog said.