Death toll in sectarian clashes near Damascus rises to 13

The death toll in clashes that took place on the outskirts of the Syrian capital of Damascus last night and this morning has risen to 13, according to local rescue workers.

The clashes began overnight when gunmen from the nearby town of Maliha and other predominantly Sunni areas converged on the mostly Druze town of Jaramana, southeast of Damascus, security sources say.

According to local sources, the clashes were sparked by a purported recording of a Druze man cursing the Prophet Mohammad which angered Sunni gunmen.

Among the dead are two members of Syria’s General Security Service, a new security force composed mostly of former rebels, according to the interior ministry spokesperson, Mustafa al-Abdo.

The fighting marks the latest episode of deadly sectarian violence in Syria, where fears among minorities have been swelling since Islamist-led rebels ousted former leader Bashar al-Assad from power in December, installing their own government and security forces.