BEIRUT — Syrian security forces killed two people while dispersing Alawite protests in the country's coastal and central areas on Sunday, a war monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said Syrian security forces killed two people while dispersing the protests and a medical source told AFP two bodies had been taken to a local hospital.

Syrian authorities did not confirm they had opened fire, but said they had "contained the situation" and accused what they called "remnants" of former ruler Bashar al assad's government of attacking security forces.

 

Meanwhile, an explosion in a mosque in a predominantly Alawite area of Syria's Homs killed three people on Friday, state media reported, citing a preliminary toll.

 

State news agency SANA reported "an explosion inside the Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi Al Dahab neighbourhood, the nature of which is being investigated" adding that it had "initial information on the death of three people and the wounding of five others".

 

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the deadly attack on Friday prayers at a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs, and said the perpetrators should be brought to justice.

 

"The Secretary-General reiterates that attacks against civilians and places of worship are unacceptable. He stresses that those responsible must be identified and brought to justice," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

 

The explosion killed at least eight worshippers at a mosque in a predominantly Alawite area of Homs, with an Islamist militant group claiming responsibility.