Two killed in clashes between Syrian security, gunmen near Damascus

Units from the Syrian security forces clashed yesterday morning with what it described as a terrorist group, it had broke into, in Mount Qasyoun area which overlooks the capital Damascus.

The Syrian official news agency (SANA) quoted an official source as saying that the confrontations resulted in killing one officer from the Syrian security forces and wounding other four and the detention of two women from the group. One woman and one Jordanian man.

News reports in Damascus quoted well-informed sources as saying that the group affiliates to al-Qaida organization and its members were guards for the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and they are wanted for terrorist crimes in Jordan.

News reports said that one member of this group was killed during the confrontations while others were able to flee away, noting that the detained man is called Sharif Ayed al-Samadi.

The Syrian security forces chased other members of the group who had fled. An official source at the Information Ministry said that primary investigations indicated that some members of the unidentified terror group had worked as bodyguards for Saddam Hussein.

One of those arrested called Sharif Ayed Saed al-Semadi, a Jordanian and wife of his run-away brother Mohammad Ayed Saed al-Semadi surnamed Mohammad Islam.

According to the source, no one of the Syrian citizens at the clash site was injured and the security forces continue pursuing the other members who are involved in terrorist crimes and holdups.