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By Douglas Hamilton and Erika Solomon

Syria says a year-long revolt to topple President Bashar al-Assad is now over, but it will keep its forces in cities to “maintain security” until it is safe to withdraw in line with a U.N.-backed peace deal.

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The agreement proposed by United Nations-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan says the Syrian authorities must be first to withdraw troops, and stop violence immediately.

The United States and its Gulf Arab allies urged Annan on Saturday to set a timeline for “next steps” if the bloodshed persists. Saudi Arabia repeated a call for rebels to be armed.

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Annan has said neither measure would be helpful. The former UN chief’s mission has brought no respite in the killings.

Opposition activists reported 21 people killed and five bodies found bearing signs of torture, including two children.

A protest singer in Kafr Ruma was killed when his house was raided. A young man and his sister were shot dead when state forces stormed their village, and a man died of gunshot wounded inflicted during a protest in Damascus.