BEIRUT - Syrian security forces droppedleaflets across Damascus on Tuesday warning rebel gunmen to giveup their arms and surrender, opposition activists said.
"The weapon you are carrying has become a burden on you, andthere is no hope for you to survive unless you drop yourweapon," said the leaflets, dropped by helicopters.
"The moment of truth has come. The men of the Syrian ArabArmy are coming, time is running out and the wise man is the onewho saves himself," said the leaflets, signed by the armedforces general command.
Activists reported seeing the leaflets in the neighborhoodsof Zahira and Midan, where the army launched a fiercecounter-attack against last week's rebel offensive in thecapital.But rebels have lately mounted the gravest challenge yet toSyrian President Bashar Assad with gains in Damascus, albeitshort-lived, as well as the killing of four top securityofficials in a bombing and the capture of four border crossingslast week.