Deadly shooting in Syria's Banias: witnesses

NICOSIA: Syrian security forces opened fire in the coastal town of Banias on Sunday, killing some people and wounding others, witnesses told AFP.

"Syrian security forces have been firing for the last two hours in the neighbourhood of Ras al-Nabee where there is the Al-Rahman mosque," a focal point of demonstrations, a witness told AFP saying four were wounded.

Another witness reported "many dead and wounded" without providing any numbers.

The gunfire, according to both witnesses, came from the Alawite neighbourhood of Al-Quz.

Rights activists, who requested anonymity citing security concerns, said the shots were aimed at the mosque and wounded seven people.