Syrian Forces Enter Hama, Residents Take to Streets

AMMAN, July 4 (Reuters) - Syrian troops stormed houses in the city of Hama on Monday as thousands of residents took to the streets shouting "God is greater" in defiance of a government crackdown on recent large protests, residents said.

"At least 30 buses carrying soldiers and security police entered Hama this morning. They are firing randomly in residential neighbourhoods," one of the residents, a workshop owner who gave his name as Ahmad, said by telephone.

He said he had seen dozens of soldiers surround a house in the Mashaa neighbourhood and make arrests.

(Reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis)