Activists and residents claim that Syrian troops have killed at least 35 people in a suburb of the capital Damascus.

They allege the mostly unarmed civilians died when forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad shelled and overran Jdeidet Artouz.

"The tanks and troops left around 4 pm. When the streets were clear we found the bodies of at least 35 men," said a resident, who gave his name as Fares.

"Almost all of them were executed with bullets to their face, head and neck in homes, gardens and basements," he added.

Fares said that the bodies were buried in a mass grave, while another local resident said the death toll had been at least 50.

Syrian state television said that "dozens of terrorists and mercenaries surrendered or were killed" when the army raided the area.

"We launched a raid on a farm and we were surprised by the number of armed men who clashed with us - from up on the roof and from down here," an army officer said, adding that his soldiers had seized bombs, mines, guns and uniforms.

Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the majority of the bodies had been identified with the victims overwhelmingly civilians.