33 killed as violent clashes continue in Syria on Sunday

Most fatalities occurred in Deir Ezzor 33 people were killed in Syria on Sunday as violence clashes took place in Damascus. Rif Dimashq was also violently bombarded by regime forces, with most of the Fatalities occurring in Deir Ezzor .The Free Syrian Army (FSA) is meanwhile continuing its push for the capital in an operation dubbed "the Battle for the Liberation of
Damascus." Jordanian border sources have reported the defection of 17 Syrian army members, including four highly-ranked officers. Amid the relentless fighting, 5156 Syrian refugees have entered Jordan over the past three days alone.
The Damascene neighbourhood of al-Kadam saw violent clashes between regime forces and the FSA. Activists reported that Syrian army forces raided residential homes in al-Zuhour neighbourhood and the FSA has taken control of the Adnan checkpoint in the neighbourhood of Jober.
In Rif Dimashq, the same sources report that the FSA has taken the al-Tarb army checkpoint in al-Zabadani, while two explosions rocked the area surrounding the police station there. Guns were fired from the checkpoint at the entrance to the al-Yarmouk refugee camp. Violent clashes took place at the military airport in Deir Ezzor, while six army men defected in the neighbourhood of Western Hawiqeh.
Sixteen bodies were found in the al-Jabila neighbourhood that appeared to have been executed. They included four brothers who had been arrested in the neighbourhood of al-Kussour. There were burn marks on the bodies and signs of mistreatment.
In Raqqa, the FSA seized the weapons of a brigade stationed near the TV and radio broadcast building, while a town in Daraa saw clashes.
The Local Coordination Committees [LLCs] reported that 169 people were killed on Saturday, including 14 children and 10 women.
According to the Revolutionary Command Council, the FSA is seeking to control several Damascus neigbourhoods. The council claims the FSA has taken over several govenmnent checkpoints, including Haramla, Ben al-Walid, al-Kabbas and Zamalka Bridge, and is now targeting the tunnel linking Zamalka and Kaboun, which the council described as a "strategic" move.
Jordanian military border patrols are reported in the Monday edition of al-Ghad newspaper as saying that 17 members of the Syrian
army defected Friday evening and entered Jordan through the Tel Shehab border area. The defectors are reported to include four high-ranking officers: a colonel, a lieutenant colonel and two captains.
As for the growing refugee crisis, Jordanian Border Guards have reported that 5156 Syrian refugees have entered Jordan over the past three days, putting the total of Syrians who have fled into Jordan since the outbreak of the conflict. State news agency Petra has reported the General Command of the Jordanian Armed Forces as saying that refugees arriving in the country cover the whole social and age spectrum and include people who are ill or injured. "The current weather conditions have required additional efforts on the part of the Border Guards in receiving, securing and transporting refugees due to the landslides that have occurred at border crossings and in the roads leading to them," the military source told Petra.
"There are over 100,000 of refugees now living in the Zaatari camp on the Jordanian-Syrian border," the sources said, revealing that Jordan will this month open a new refugee camp in the Muraijim al-Fuhood near Zarqa province.
Meanwhile, Syria's own state news agency Sana has reported that 127 refugees have returned to Syria after suffering bad living conditions in Jordanian refugee camps, while an Algerian government report has revealed the departure of 11,623 Syrian refugees out of a total of 12,000 who arrived in Syria between July and August 2012.
According to Algerian newspaper Echorouk, authorities know of only 377 Syrians legally in Algeria. Their departure is expected, the newspaper said, as these refugees had not intended to settle in Algeria and were only stopping there en route to Europe, after applying for political asylum.
Meanwhile, the head of the Lebanese Maronite church, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, who is currently visiting Damascus has told AFP that he is praying for peace in Syria. The religious leader stressed the need for "consensus and cooperation" to end the war and achieve peace.
"We began this visit on Saint Maroun's Day, so we can celebrate with our community here and the members of the eparchy the feast of Saint Maroun, the patron saint of the Maronite sect who lived in Syria where our church was born."
The Maronite leader has been widely criticised for not condemning the violence committed by the Syrian regime, the United Nations having reported the number of those killed by regime practices at 60,000. He also did not condemn the bombardment and destruction of churches.
Lebanese Future Movement MP Khaled al-Dhaher told the radio station that al-Rahi's visit to Damascus is "untimely and inappropriate" and said it will be construed as a show of support for al-Assad's regime. He also said the move was uncustomary for Maronite Patriarchs, who have been historically more independent.
Antoine Asaad, an expert on Muslim-Christian relations, said the visit only does not legitimise al-Assad's regime and was intended to signal the Patriarch's support of Syrian Christians and send the message "We are with you and you are not facing your fate on your own."