REUTERS – The Syrian security forces cordoned off the night from Sunday to Monday for access to the city of Banias, the scene of murders attributed to religious
Militia supporters of Bashar al-Assad, witnesses said Monday.

After the demonstrations for democracy on Friday and Saturday in the mostly Sunni city on the shores of the Mediterranean, militiamen from the Alawite minority, known as the "chabbiha", traveling in cars opened fire with automatic weapons on the people .

At least three people were killed, told Reuters an activist human rights present at Banias.

Bashar al Assad is Alawite himself.

Another activist of Human Rights stated that the roads were blocked at Banias.

"We tried to reach Banias from the highway along the coast but the secret police blocked the main exit and forcing cars to turn around. The surrounding roads were also blocked," he said.

Citing an authoritative source, the official Sana news agency, for its part reported that an armed group had laid an ambush Sunday on a Syrian army patrol on the highway between Latakia and Tartous near Banias, killing nine soldiers .

Eleven years after his accession to power, President Assad is facing a protest movement unprecedented in the modern history of Syria under a state of emergency is in force since the coup orchestrated by the Baath Party in 1963.

Tanks

At least 90 people have died since the March events, parts of Deraa, in southern Syria.

While the protest movement continues for a fourth consecutive week across the country, the Syrian security forces were deployed Saturday night aboard tanks near the refinery at Banias, near the Alawite of Koussour.

Gunshots were heard Sunday in various locations throughout the city and a defender of human rights at Banias told Reuters that at least three civilians were killed by chabbiha.

"They came from the nearby mountains.The inhabitants of Banias know that these thugs acting on orders and that sectarian divisions would lead to destructionspour everyone, "said the defender of Human Rights that the Sunnis participated as Alawite the latest events in favor of democratic changes at Banias.

"The city streets were emptied after the murders. People are afraid. Chabbiha The shoot blindly and you can see the bullet holes in buildings," he added.

According to a doctor and a university professor, including those chabbiha have attacked a group of people keeping the Sunni mosque Abu Bakr al-Siddiq.

"Four people have been affected in the feet and legs.A fifth person has suffered more serious injuries, a bullet from an AK-47 which entered the left side of his chest, "said the doctor, who was on the scene at the time.

"Banias is a city of 50,000 people. We all know and we would know if there were undercover agents," said university professor.