Beirut, Rajab 9, 1433, May 30, 2012, SPA - At least six people were killed on Wednesday when heavy clashes erupted between regime's troops and rebels near the capital Damascus, activists said. The sounds of explosions and machine gunfire were heard in the districts of Sayyeda Zainab and Douma on the outskirts of Damascus, activists were quoted as saying by DPA. Activists said that the regime's troops also shelled the central area of Houla, where more than 100 people, mainly children and women, were killed by regime forces. The massacre prompted many Western nations to expel Syrian diplomats. Meanwhile, The Joint U.N.-Arab League Envoy, Kofi Annan will brief the UN Security Council later today, on his talks with President Bashar Al-Assad. --SPA 13:20 LOCAL TIME 10:20 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1003214