DEADLY

12 Killed in Syrian Crackdown

Ruler will address the nation tonight.

At least 12 people were killed in weekend violence in Syria amid cries for embattled ruler Bashar al-Assad to step down. After being largely absent from public eye over the past week, Assad said he would address the nation Sunday night. The latest demonstrations hit Latakia, a majority Sunni town 220 miles north of Damascus that is home to the Assad’s own minority sect. The Syrian news agency Sana reported that protesters torched the ruling Baath party headquarters. Local human-rights groups have estimated that more than 100 people have been killed since the protests erupted March 18, and scores of local journalists have been detained. On Sunday, Reuters reported two of their TV journalists are missing in Syria.