MHADRA CITY, Syria, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- A rebel ambush killed six Syrian soldiers and three civilians near Mhadra City Sunday amid scattered clashes between troops and insurgents, officials say.
Syria's official Sana news agency said "an armed terrorist group" opened fire with machine guns on a bus carrying military and civilian personnel from a military maintenance center.
Another 17 passengers were wounded.
Sana said the guerrillas were cornered after pursuit on the Hama-al-Ghab highway and three were killed. Weapons and explosives were reportedly found in their stolen pickup truck.
The ambush came on the same day that Syrian security forces killed three anti-government protesters in Idlib province, a rebel organization told the BBC.
The Local Coordination Committees told the BBC troops sealed off the hospital in the area to prevent wounded protesters from receiving medical treatment.
