Syrian Military Charges into Northern Town

In a statement released Sunday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern about the violence in Jisr al-Shughour.

Syrian security forces moved into Jisr al-Shughour on Sunday in an effort to quell an uprising against a government crackdown. Local activists report about 200 military vehicles stormed the northern town, in addition to the presence of helicopters equipped with machine guns. But Syrian state television reported on Sunday that the military had advanced into Jisr al-Shughour to restore order due to "armed gangs." Residents dispute there are any armed gangs in their town. Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon denounced Syria's force against civilians and expressed concern about violence in Jisr al-Shughour in a statement released on Sunday. Last week, Amnesty International reported that an estimated 1,100 people have been killed since the crackdown started in mid-March.