Syrian government forms elite guards

The Syrian military are forming an elite guard of 60,000 troops, ITAR-TASS reports.

Intelligence services say that the Shabikha militia, mainly consisting of Alawis, is being transformed into an elite guard, similar to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

About 2,000 Iranian instructors are training elite troops. The new subdivisions would give Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a new chance to remain in power.

British analysts say that the guards will be able to protect the Alawis in the Mediterranean coast of Syria, Tartus and Latakia.