More than 40 bodies were found late Monday in the flash point city of Homs, as clashes between government forces and armed men left 4 gunmen killed, and unidentified number of civilians and military personnel dead.

The private al-Watan newspaper said Tuesday that clashes erupted Monday between Syrian army and gunmen who were attacking army checkpoints.

More than 40 bodies of people who were previously kidnapped by armed groups were found, according to the report.

Quoting a medical source at the National Hospital in Homs, al- Watan said 38 unidentified and mutilated bodies with gunshots have arrived at the hospital.

Earlier on Monday, the paper said gunmen cut off road, set up barriers and opened fire at passing cars at Wadi al-Sayeh neighborhood in Homs, killing 9 people.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said specialized authorities have arrested dozens of gunmen, who were among the most dangerous wanted terrorists, at the northern city of Idlib and the central province of Homs, seized large quantities of weapons, and dismantled six explosive devices.

SANA said 11 dangerous wanted men were arrested at Idlib, 12 at al-Rastan town in Homs, and that four gunmen were killed at al- Khalidiyeh and al-Bayadhah neighborhoods in Homs.

The agency said a terrorist group opened fire on Monday at a bus, wounding the driver and a woman.

An official source dismissed as "absolutely baseless" a report broadcasted by al-Arabiya TV channel that Khaled Bin al-Walid Mosque in Homs was shelled by artillery.

The opposition British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said about 50 people were killed Monday in central Homs province, including 34 bodies found after being kidnapped by pro- government gunmen known as Shabiha.

Many people consider Homs as the center of unrest, with protests being staged on a daily basis and residents sticking to their demands. Protests there have turned to violence and result in a lot of deaths this year.

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted last week a new resolution condemning human rights violations committed by Syrian authorities against anti-government protesters.

The UNHRC has recently said that Syrian forces have committed crimes against humanity. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said at a news conference that 4,000 people have died in Syria's unrest so far this year. She warned that a civil war is likely to take place in the country.

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