Syrian troops shelled the town of Tel Kelakh and opened fire on residents who were fleeing to Lebanon, killing seven people and wounding five.

Tel Kelakh, a town few miles (km) away from Lebanon's northern border, saw the Syrian troops and tanks firing on pro-democracy protests against the Bashar al-Assad government.

Two women and five men were killed by during the shelling in four places -- al-Burj, Souk, Ghalioun and Mahata, said reports. Two boys, aged 5 and 6, were wounded during the protests, said the Lebanese officials.

“Wounded people had little access to care” said the Local Coordination Committees in a statement. The main hospital in the town was sealed by security forces and the main road leading to Lebanon was also blocked.

Gunfire from the “Syrian side of the border also wounded a Lebanese soldier,” officials said.

The authorities, however, failed to stop hundreds of people fleeing to the bordering country. More than 5,000 Syrians have so far fled to Lebanon.

The Syrian government had offered a dialogue with the opposition on Sunday, after releasing several protesters who had been held.

The dialogue was rejected by the Local Coordination Committees, who said the government must stop shooting protesters first, Reuters reported.

Activists say around 7,000 people have been arrested and more than 800 people have died across Syria, in more than two months of protests. But the authorities say thousands have surrendered and have been released.