Syrian troops attack Deraa, battle rebels-residents

AMMAN, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Syrian armoured forces

attacked Deraa on Thursday to try to stamp out Free Syrian Army

rebels in the city where the uprising against President Bashar

al-Assad's rule began last March, residents and opposition

activists said.

The sound of explosions and machinegun fire echoed through

the city's al-Balad, al-Mahatta and al-Sad districts as

government troops attacked rebels, who responded by firing at

army roadblocks and buildings housing security police and

militiamen, they said. Deraa lies on the border with Jordan.

(Reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis and Suleiman al-Khalidi,

Amman newsroom; editing by Tim Pearce)