Bashar al-Assad's forces storm central district of Damascus

Elite Syrian forces backed by armoured personnel carriers stormed part of Damascus on Wednesday, firing machine-guns in the air, in the closest deployment of troops to the centre of the capital in an 11-month uprising, residents and activists said.

Troops from the Fourth Armoured Division and Republican Guards erected roadblocks in main streets of Barzeh neighbourhood, searched houses and made arrests.

Residents said the troops were looking for opposition activists and members of the Free Syrian Army, which has been providing security for protests against President Bashar al-Assad in the district.   

(Reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis)