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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 27671, member: 2262"] Syrian forces reportedly killed about 745 Alawite civilians during recent attacks at many spots along the coast, according to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The British group said these deaths happened Friday and Saturday across thirty different locations. Nobody at BBC News has checked these facts firsthand yet. Many people ran away from their homes near areas where former leader Bashar al-Assad came from. Assad belongs to the Alawite religious group, just like those killed. The Observatory claims over 1,000 total deaths occurred these past two days, marking the worst bloodshed since rebels took down the Assad government back in December. The death count includes government troops plus fighters loyal to Assad. They have battled each other throughout coastal provinces since Thursday. Reports say about 125 members of Islamic-led security forces died, plus 148 pro-Assad fighters lost their lives during these clashes, according to information from the Observatory. A defense official told Syrian news agency Sana that the government regained control after what they called "treacherous attacks" against security personnel. One activist described the Alawite community feeling "horror" as hundreds fled dangerous areas. Some videos showed people chanting for Russian protection outside a military base. Families escaped to Lebanon as violence spread through their neighborhoods. The United Nations envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressed deep concern about civilian deaths along coastal regions. He asked everyone to avoid actions that might further destabilize the country or hurt chances for political change. Alawites practice a form of Shia Islam and makeup roughly ten percent of Syria's population. Most Syrians follow Sunni Muslim traditions, putting Alawites as a distinct minority group within the country. This religious difference adds another layer to the ongoing tensions affecting the nation. [/QUOTE]

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