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personnel in battles with hundreds of gunmen in the north-western town of Jisr al-Shughour.

More than 80 of the deaths were said to have happened when the security headquarters in the town was overrun.

Communications are largely cut off and there has been little information from the protesters' side about the unrest.

If confirmed, it would be the deadliest day for the security forces since anti-government protests began in mid-March.