Protesters Killed across Syria as Regime Forces Open Fire

Syrians shout slogans and hold posters of President Bashar Assad and natioanl flags during a pro-government rally outside the Umayyad Mosque in the old city of Damascus, Syria, on 25 March EPA/BGNES

At least several protesters have been killed in several Syrian cities as regime forces opened fire against street rallies on Friday.

The protests in a number of Syrian cities came after on Wednesday at least 15 people were killed by government forces in a deadly crackdown in Daraa. Hoping to head off more protests, presidential advisor Bouthaina Shaaban announced a number of reforms on Thursday.

Various international media reports, mostly unconfirmed, announce that protesters were shot dead late Friday in Latakia, Homs, Daraa, and Sanamein.

In Daraa, the protesters burned a picture of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and attacked a statue of his father Hafez al-Assad, CNN reported.

Syria's capital Damascus itself is reported to have seen clashes between pro- and anti-government rallies outside the Umayyad mosque.

The unrest erupted in the last week when residents of Dara, a Roman-era city near the Jordanian border, demanded the release of 20 political detainees. It has been inspired by protests and revolutions in other Arab countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya.

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