BEIRUT: Violence killed 11 people across Syria on Saturday, mostly civilians, and hundreds more were trapped in Douma in Damascus province north of the capital, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The victims included a civilian shot dead by a sniper in Douma, an anti-regime activist in the central province of Hama, and one rebel in the southern province of Daraa, the Britain-based watchdog said.

It warned of a "catastrophic humanitarian situation" in Douma, which "has been subjected to a fierce military campaign since June 21."

Violence has killed "scores and wounded hundreds" there since regime forces escalated attacks on the outlying suburb of Damascus, the group said.

"More than 100 families remain in the town, unable to flee and forced to take refuge in shelters," the Observatory said, adding that most of those trapped are women and children, after the majority of the men fled repeated arrest sweeps.

An also explosion rocked the Qaboon district of Damascus on Saturday, the Observatory said, and another blast hit the country's second city Aleppo in the north. No casualties were immediately reported.

Another blast hit an oil pipeline in a rebel-held area of the eastern province of Deir Ezzor.

The latest violence came a day after 73 people were killed nationwide, among them 23 regime troops.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2012

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