The sectarian violence involving Islamist factions, security forces and Druze gunmen is another sign of the fragile security situation.

Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri has harshly criticized Syria's government for what he called an "unjustified genocidal attack" during deadly sectarian fighting in Druze-majority areas south of Damascus this week.

Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday condemned what he called a "genocidal campaign" against his community after two days of deadly sectarian clashes left 101 people dead.The violence poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.