Hundreds of people seeking to escape the violent unrest in Syria have fled to neighbouring Lebanon, a Lebanese security official said today.

He said up to 1,000 Syrians entered overnight through the al-Qusair crossing in the Akkar region, near Wadi Khaled in northern Lebanon.

He said among those who have fled are at least six Syrians with gunshot wounds, who have been admitted to hospital in Akkar.

Meanwhile, Syrian activists said the death toll from protests across the country against President Bashar Assad yesterday has risen to 20.

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