Army, protesters clash near Banias

(AP)

Shots rang out after the Syrian army sealed off the key port city of Banias yesterday where anti-government protesters turned out, undaunted by the regime's use of deadly force to quell more than three weeks of unrest.

Human-rights groups said there were casualties, but the reports were not immediately confirmed. Syrian state-run television reported that a police officer was killed in an ambush by thugs near Banias, which is 185 miles (300 kilometres) northwest of the capital, Damascus.

Details were sketchy because telephone lines, Internet access and electricity apparently were cut in the area. Army tanks and soldiers circled the city, preventing people from entering.

Protests erupted in Syria more than three weeks ago and have been growing steadily every week, with tens of thousands of people calling for sweeping reforms in President Bashar Assad's authoritarian regime. More than 170 people have been killed.

The government blames the violence on armed gangs rather than true reform-seekers and has vowed to crush further unrest.

Assad said yesterday that the country is "moving ahead on the road of comprehensive reforms," the state-run news agency SANA said.

In recent weeks, Assad has answered the protesters with both force and limited concessions that have failed to appease an emboldened movement inspired by the Arab uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.