HUNDREDS of Syrian soldiers stormed a Damascus suburb early today, breaking into houses and making dozens of arrests

The raids came after thousands of people marched in a demonstration in the area last Friday, demanding the removal of President Bashar al Assad.

Residents who witnessed the raids said the strong-arm tactics were over-the-top because the protests had been peaceful, The (London) Times reported.

"They cut off communications before they came in. There is no resistance. The demonstrations in Saqba have been peaceful. Scores of people have been arrested," said one local, who did not want to be named.

The Syrian opposition has vowed to continue peaceful protests despite a security sweep by the authorities in which thousands of people have been arrested.

A column of 30 tanks and 60 armoured personnel carriers belonging to the Presidential Guard brigade was seen heading toward the capital Damascus from a military base near the border with Lebanon.

Yesterday, Syrian army units, backed by tanks, tightened the siege of two defiant urban centres, in a sign that President Assad is widening the use of the military to crush demonstrations against his autocratic rule.

More tanks were spotted moving towards Rastan, 17km north of Homs, in what appeared to be an imminent fresh offensive against one of the main hubs of the uprising.

Army units also set up checkpoints in Sunni districts in Banias, days after a loyalist army division led by Assad's brother Maher crushed protests in the southern city of Deraa with shellfire and machine guns.

The demonstrations in Syria, inspired by pro-democracy uprisings elsewhere in the Arab world, began with demands for political freedom and an end to corruption. Assad's response - repression and an offer of limited reform - led to wider demands for his removal.

Human rights groups say the army, security forces and gunmen loyal to Assad have killed at least 560 demonstrating civilians since the protests erupted in Deraa on March 18.