Blasts in Syria kill and wound dozens of troops

BEIRUT (AP) - Twin explosions set off by a pair of suicide bombers shook a southern Syrian city on Saturday, killing and wounding dozens of regime forces, an activist group said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said the early morning blasts in Daraa targeted an encampment for government troops in the city. IT said the explosions were followed by clashes between regime forces and rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

The state-run news agency Sana said the blasts caused multiple casualties and heavy material damage, but it did not provide further details.

The southern city of Daraa was the birthplace of the uprising against Mr Assad, which erupted in March last year. The conflict began largely with peaceful protests against Mr Assad's rule but turned bloody after rebels took up arms in response to the regime's crackdown.