A military crackdown on Syria\u2019s seven-week uprising broadened Sunday, with reinforcements sent to two cities under siege and more forces deployed in a town in a restive region in the south of the country, activists and human rights groups said. Fourteen were killed in Homs, the groups said, and hundreds reported arrested.<\/p>\n
The crackdown \u201d\u201d from the Mediterranean coast to the poor steppe of southern Syria \u201d\u201d seemed to mark a decisive turn in an uprising that has posed the gravest challenge to the 11-year rule of President Bashar al-Assad. Even though government officials have continued to hint at reforms, and even gingerly reached out to some dissidents last week, the crackdown seemed to signal the government\u2019s intent to end the uprising by force.<\/p>\n
At least 30 tanks were said to be inside Baniyas, one of Syria\u2019s most restive locales, where the military entered Saturday. Activists and human rights groups said they had almost no information about the coastal town of 50,000, but one activist said at least six people were killed and 250 arrested since the operation began.<\/p>\n