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Syrian children at a refugee camp protest against their President Bashar Assad Vadim Ghirda/AP/Press Association Images

Protests continue in Syria as troops move into towns

Anti-government protesters have taken to the streets across Syria, as troops begin to move into towns.

SYRIAN TROOPS BACKED by tanks and helicopter gunships seized control of a northwestern town in Syria this morning.

This came after a days-long siege during which activists reported accounts of executions and indiscriminate killings.

Al Jazeera is reporting that rallies started in several towns and cities across Syria, as part of their now 3-month old campaign to oust President Bashar Assad.

Omar Idilbi of the Local Coordination Committees said government forces had taken full control of Maaret al-Numan, a town of 100,000 on the highway linking Damascus with Syria’s second-largest city, Aleppo.

Human rights activists say more than 1,400 Syrians have been killed and 10,000 detained in the past three months. Some 9,600 others from the northwest have sought refuge in camps in neighbouring Turkey.

Friday has become the main day for protests in the Arab world, inspired by democratic revolutions in  Tunisia and Egypt

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that France and Germany will push for tougher sanctions against Syria, while UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he strongly urges President Assad to stop killing people and engage in dialogue.

Thousands of Syrians have escaped across the border to Turkey.

The Turkish government is preparing to send humanitarian aid to around 10,000 people waiting on the Syrian side of the border.

Meanwhile, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie will visit Syrian refugee camps in Turkey.

Acting in her role as goodwill ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, she is expected to arrive in the Turkish province of Hatay this afternoon.

Turkish authorities are to hang a 16 yard-long banner near the entrance of the camp reading: “Goodness Angel of the World, Welcome.”

- Additional reporting by AP

Read more: More Syrian refugees pour into Turkey>

Read more: Syrian forces ‘drag families from their homes’>

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    Mute John Meade
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    Jul 16th 2013, 10:41 AM

    This coming from a man who clicks his fingers at Gardai

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    Mute Paul Keenan
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    Jul 16th 2013, 12:29 PM

    And pushes a camera man away.

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    Mute Philip O'Rourke
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    Jul 16th 2013, 1:08 PM

    And from the government of personal attacks.

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    Mute Chuck Farrelly
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    Jul 16th 2013, 10:40 AM

    Remember when Brendan Howlin himself was described as “a safe pair of balls” by Susan McKay? Remember the outrage then? Me neither.

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    Mute Mark Garrigan
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    Jul 16th 2013, 10:50 AM

    Can we not get rid of the Dail first?

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    Mute Nigel O Keeffe
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    Jul 16th 2013, 10:55 AM

    government must be delighted at all this ,keeping the anglo tapes off range,not to mention all the real problems ..mortage arrears..unemployment..all the things they should be working on!
    is the country really outraged at a common enough word?..dont think so!

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    Mute Morticia
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    Jul 16th 2013, 10:38 AM

    Who put Happy up it ?

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    Mute John Kelly
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    Jul 16th 2013, 12:22 PM

    Minister Howlin has some cheek, answer him and his party friends to start looking after the people of Ireland and run the country properly but then again minister Howlin would not run to the shops never mind the country.

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    Mute Billy Brennan's Barn
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    Jul 16th 2013, 3:06 PM

    Come on out of the closet Brendan at this stage & stand up on your own morals

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    Mute Philip O'Rourke
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    Jul 16th 2013, 1:21 PM

    With the Seanad out of the way,
    A large bronze statue of Enda Kenny will be erected on O’Connell Street.
    Michael Martin will be sent to Mayo for re-education before his forced induction into the New FG, comprised totally of failed school teachers.
    Labour will be disbanded due to lack of school teachers.

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    Mute richardmccarthy
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    Jul 16th 2013, 12:05 PM

    Im just glad i didnt vote him for President.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 16th 2013, 5:50 PM

    Howlin, who can take money from peoples wages before a democratic vote can take place on Haddington rd, is acting like an autocrat, the man is a joke !!!!!

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Jul 16th 2013, 6:55 PM

    So was the “Regina Monologues”
    Quite funny!

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    Mute TheIrishBrain
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    Jul 16th 2013, 3:45 PM

    Non person with gray opinions and views, incapable of answering a question without resorting to obfuscation.Career polation.

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