Syrians flee to Lebanon, death toll rises to 20

BEIRUT — A Lebanese security official says hundreds of Syrians have fled to neighboring Lebanon, while activists say the death toll from anti-government protests a day earlier has risen to 20.

The Lebanese official says up to 1,000 Syrians crossed overnight through the al-Qusair crossing in the region of Akkar near Wadi Khaled in northern Lebanon.

He says among those who have fled are at least six Syrians with gunshot wounds. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations, says the wounded have been hospitalized in Akkar.

Syrian activists meanwhile raised the death toll from Friday's protests across Syria against President Bashar Assad to 20.