Syrian troops tighten grip on northern town
Syrian troops backed by tanks tightened their grip on the town of Jisr al-Shughour Saturday as they pressed ahead with an effort to regain control over a swath of territory in northern Syria that appeared to have fallen out of government control.
The offensive against the northern rural town on Friday came as tens of thousands of Syrians took to the streets around the country yet again to call for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, in a further sign that the government’s use of overwhelming force is not only failing to crush a swelling tide of discontent, but perhaps helping to fuel the unrest.
At least 34 people were killed, according to Wissam Tarif of the human rights group Insan…