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'Terrorists' arrested in Daraa, Syria says

DAMASCUS, Syria, May 4 (UPI) -- Security forces in the Syrian city of Daraa arrested members of a militant group and found a large cache of weapons, the Syrian government announced.

Syria is facing international condemnation for allegedly using live ammunition against pro-reform demonstrators. The southern city of Daraa is a center point of the unrest.

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The official Syrian Arab News Agency said security forces rounded up a number of militants during operations in Daraa.

"More members of the armed terrorist groups were arrested in Daraa and large amounts of weapons and ammunitions were found in underground shelters, fields and different sites across the city and its suburbs," the SANA report said, citing military sources.

Foreign journalists are barred from covering the events in Syria. Reports from SANA differ from the narrative outlined by major news outlets.

Amnesty International expressed concern over the wave of arrests that it said escalated over the weekend.

Detainees released recently by Syrian authorities told the organization they were held in harsh conditions and beaten. This raises "fears for the safety of hundreds of others being held," the organization said.

The unrest follows promises of reform by Syrian President Bashar Assad. Washington said the escalation of violence in Syria suggests Damascus isn't serious about change, however.

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