The Syrian army has begun operations to "restore security" to the town of Jisr al-Shughour and the surrounding area, state TV says.

叙利亚国家电视台称，叙利亚军队已经在城镇吉斯尔 舒古尔及其周边地区“维持治安”。

Earlier in the week, the Syrian government said 120 security personnel were killed in the north-western town.

The announcement, and the positioning of troops in the area, has prompted a flow of refugees to nearby Turkey.

The government has blamed the deaths on armed groups, but there are reports of a mutiny（兵变，叛乱） among security forces.

Syrian state TV said armed men were in control of the town and had prepared defences.

The Turkish government says more than 2,000 Syrians have crossed the border seeking refuge from the anticipated（预期的） crackdown in Jisr al-Shughour.

Conflicting accounts

Syria has prevented foreign journalists, including those from the BBC, from entering the country, making it difficult to verify reports from there.

The BBC's Jim Muir, in Beirut, Lebanon, says the events in Jisr al-Shughour present a massive challenge to President Assad.

Syrian state TV has been preparing the way for the security operation in the town and in anticipation¹.

The reported action against Jisr al-Shughour is in response to claims by Damascus that armed gangs killed 120 members of the security forces there after protests against President Assad's rule.

The government says local residents requested the army's intervention² to restore peace and quiet.

But dissenting³ accounts say the violence was sparked by deserting soldiers, and that loyal troops have massacred（残杀） peaceful civilians⁴.

Human rights groups say more than 1,100 people have been killed since protests began in March against President Assad, and it now appears several hundred security forces may also have died.

The unrest in Syria has prompted a split within the UN Security Council, where France and Britain have proposed a resolution to condemn⁵ the government's actions.

But other nations on the council, including Brazil, China and Russia, say such a resolution - which does not propose concrete action - could further inflame⁶ tensions in an already volatile⁷（不稳定的） region.