BY ORKIDE IZCI

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Syria could be planting planting landmines along part of its border with Lebanon. Witnesses say the Syrian army has been busy digging holes and planting mines. WTVJ has more.

“Witnesses and an anonymous Syrian official have told the Associated Press Damascus is planting land mines along parts of the border with Lebanon. All of this as President Assad faces seven months uprising there in the area, and they're telling that the landmines have been planted to prevent the smuggling of arms across the border. Many syrian cross the border into Lebanon regularly to flee the violence of their country, and there is also signs that Syria is working to prevent Lebanon from becoming a safe haven for the Syrian opposition.”

But according to Lebanon Now!-- at least one Syrian official says the report is false.

“Syrian Social Nationalist Party MP Marwan Fares ... denied reports that the Syrian army is planting mines on the Lebanese eastern border.”

And according to the Associated Press-- anonymous Syrian officials tell reporters the mines are supposed to prevent arms smuggling into Syria. So which is it?

A GlobalPost reporter says-- either way...

“The mines have become the latest in a series of signs that Syria is working to prevent Lebanon from becoming a safe haven for the Syrian opposition. The move betrays Syria's increasing isolation in the region since the protests against Assad's regime began eight months ago.”

The Global Post adds-- the exodus to Lebanon has been embarrassing for al Assad-- as the crackdown on anti-government protesters continues-- and many Syrians look for ways to escape.

Here’s euronews.

 

“In the last few days, Syrian tanks have pounded an old district in the city of Homs. Activists say troops have shot dead 40 civilians in one of the bloodiest weekends of the seven-month-old uprising against Assad’s regime.”

The United Nations says about 3,000 people have been killed by Syrian security forces since the protests began in March.