Over 300 die in bloodiest day of Syria revolt

BEIRUT (AFP) - More than 305 people were killed across Syria on Wednesday, making it the bloodiest single day of the 18-month revolt, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"This is the highest toll in a single day since March 2011. And this is only counting those whose names have been documented. If we count the unidentified bodies, the figure will be much higher," Observatory director Mr Rami Abdel Rahman said.

A total of 199 of Wednesday's dead were civilians, the Britain-based watchdog said.

In the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, 23 people, including a child and a woman were killed by army gunfire when troops stormed the Jura district.