Thirty-seven people were killed in clashes between Bedouin tribes and local fighters in the southern Syrian city of Sweida, which is predominantly populated by Druze, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA, citing a non-governmental monitoring organization.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported today that 27 Druze, including two children, and 10 Bedouins were killed. About 50 people were injured.
The new Syrian authorities, who overthrew long-time President Bashar al-Assad in December last year, have sent reinforcements in an attempt to calm the situation.
The highway between the Syrian capital Damascus and Sweida, the main city of the province of the same name, has been closed.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported earlier that eight people had been killed - six Druze and two Bedouins.
These are the first deadly clashes in the area since April and May. Then dozens of people were killed in fighting between the security forces of the new Syrian authorities and Druze fighters, AFP recalls.
The province of Sweida, which has about 700,000 inhabitants, is home to the largest Druze community in Syria. There has long been tension between Druze and Bedouin factions, leading to sporadic violence between the two groups.
The governor of Sweida, Mustafa al-Baqour, called on residents to show "restraint". Several prominent Druze leaders also called for calm and for authorities to intervene.
Following the fall of Assad from power, concerns have arisen about the fate of Syria's minorities under the new Islamist government, AFP notes.