6 Civilians, 4 Militiamen Killed in Syria

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Clashes in the restive Syrian city of Homs killed ten civilians, while four pro-regime militiamen died in Idlib province on Saturday, a human rights group said.

At least six civilians were killed by gunfire in the central city of Homs, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in statements received in Nicosia.

And in the northwestern province of Idlib, near the Turkish border, "four (Shabiha) militiamen loyal to the regime were killed by suspected deserters in the town of Saraqeb," added the Britain-based Observatory.

On Friday, Syrian troops killed at least 23 people when demonstrators took to the streets denouncing "despots and tyrants," with world powers casting doubt on the regime's commitment to the peace deal agreed with the Arab League.

The death toll since Syria agreed to the plan on Wednesday has topped 50, with the United Nations estimating that more than 3,000 people have been killed in a brutal crackdown since anti-regime protests erupted in mid-March.

The Arab League plan calls for an end to violence, the release of those detained, the withdrawal of the army from urban areas and free movement for observers and the media, as well as talks between the regime and opposition.

However, the head of the opposition Syrian National Council, Burhan Ghalioun, on Saturday ruled out any dialogue with the regime, in a statement broadcast by al-Jazeera television.

"We will not negotiate over the blood of the victims and the martyrs. The regime is only trying to win time," with its declared acceptance of the Arab plan, he charged, calling on security forces to desert.