Syria said today army units have begun to leave Deraa, the heart of an uprising against president Bashar al-Assad, but residents described a city still under siege.
Soldiers also raided homes across the country as president Bashar al-Assad grappled with the most serious challenge of his 11-year authoritarian rule.
Mr Assad had ordered the army to enter Deraa, where demonstrations calling for more freedoms and later for his overthrow started in March, 10 days ago.
Activists and residents said soldiers backed by tanks had shelled and machine-gunned the city's old quarter and rounded people up in mass arrests.
State news agency Sana quoted an official military source as saying the army had completed its mission, arresting elements of "terrorist" groups and restoring security, peace and stability.
Two witnesses who were heading out of the city said that around 30 tanks on armoured carriers had left the city heading north. They said Syrian army units remained deployed at several entrances to the city.
Deraa residents who live in Deraa's Mahatta area said at least six tanks were deployed near government installations and public squares and snipers were poised atop building near Tishrin Square.
They also said security forces had allowed people to move freely until 2pm when a curfew was imposed.
"There are security barriers every 100 metres. The security forces have not left yet. They are still spread everywhere in the Balad," said one resident who called himself Abu Jasem.
Pictures of the 45-year-old president have reappeared on business and shop windows, resident said. Infuriated by the crackdown, enraged protesters in Deraa had hauled down a statue of Mr Assad's father, Hafez, on March 24th.
Rights groups say at least 560 civilians have been killed since the protests erupted in Deraa on March 18th, before spreading to other centres. Officials, who blame armed groups for the violence, give a much lower death toll and say half those killed have been security forces.
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon said today he had raised the issue of the possible violation of human rights with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad during a phone conversation a day earlier.
Mr Ban said he had urged Mr Assad to take decisive reform measures "before it was too late".
"I raised also the possible violation of human rights, and that human rights should be fully protected of those people, peaceful demonstrators," Mr Ban told a news conference in the Bulgarian capital.
The United States and Italy have warned Syria that it will face penalties and increasing isolation if it does not halt its violent crackdown on pro-reform demonstrators.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini said Syrian authorities must be pressured to end the violence that has left more than 550 people dead since the uprising began, as security forces cracked down on protests. Scores of soldiers also have been reported killed.
Mrs Clinton said the US is looking at boosting sanctions it has already imposed on Syrian leaders. Mr Frattini said Italy would support similar measures by the European Union.
Reuters