"Armed saboteurs" opened fire on Syrian security forces in the central province of Hama, killing an officer and wounding 13 others, the official SANA news agency reported Wednesday.

Order-preserving forces came under attacks of the armed groups when they interfered to restore security and stability in restive areas, SANA quoted an unnamed official in Hama as saying.

An exchange of fire led to the killing of a security agent and the wounding of 13 others, said the report, adding that a number of the gunmen were wounded and some others were arrested.

It said those "saboteurs" have cut off roads, erected roadblocks and set fire to tires in a number of the city's quarters and torched a bus on the Aleppo-Hama highway.

Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem denied reports that the Syrian army has launched a military operation in Hama.

In a statement to the U.S. CNN network, Moallem said "there is no military assault in Hama," adding that claims about the deployment of the army in the city are "baseless."

The city of Hama has witnessed the largest turnout since the eruption of anti-government protests in mid-March, as activist said around 500,000 people flooded the city streets on Friday, calling for the downfall of the leadership.