Activists: Syrian troops shell central regions

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) ? Syria's foreign ministry spokesman has denied government troops were behind an attack on a string of villages that left more than 90 people dead.

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  By Bassem Tellawi, AP

  Syria's Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi denied on Sunday that government troops were behind an attack on villages.

By Bassem Tellawi, AP

Syria's Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi denied on Sunday that government troops were behind an attack on villages.

Friday's assault on Houla, an area northwest of the central city of Homs, was one of the bloodiest single events in Syria's 15-month-old uprising.

Jihad Makdissi told reporters in Damascus at a Sunday news conference that Syria is being subjected to a "tsunami of lies" blaming the government. He said anti-government gunmen carried the attack.

"We categorically deny the responsibility of government forces for the massacre," Makdissi said.

Makdissi says a committee was sent to investigate the case and results should be out within three days.

He added that U.N. envoy Kofi Annan will be in Syria on Monday.

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