Syrians flee 'massacres' in Baniyas and al-Bayda

Hundreds of Syrians have fled coastal areas where activists accuse government forces of carrying out massacres in a campaign of sectarian cleansing.

Footage of mutilated and burnt bodies, allegedly from the town of Baniyas, have been posted online.

Activists said 77 people had died in Baniyas, a day after 72 were killed at the nearby village of al-Bayda.some of them women and children.

The government said it had fought back "terrorist groups" and restored peace and security to the area.

They have posted gruesome video clips to back up their claims.

Foreign news organizations are severely restricted in Syria.

International efforts to tackle the violence have recently focused on the alleged use of chemical weapons by the regime.

US President Barack Obama has described such actions as a "red line", but he said on Friday that he did not envisage a situation where US troops would be sent to Syria.

Analysts say the US and its allies are also discussing action including air strikes to enforce a no-fly zone, but Syria's ally Russia is strongly opposed to such measures.

Source: BBC Posted by Unknown 5/04/2013