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Thousands of Syrians emerged from prayers to protest in the country's north and south on Friday, in the first rallies since President Bashar al-Assad dashed hopes for greater freedoms. EPA/BGNES
At least four people have been shot dead by Syrian security forces and dozens have been wounded as protesters demanding freedom and reforms have taken to the streets of Damascus and other major cities.
The four people were killed in the suburb of Douma, 15 km north of the Syrian capital Damascus, according to witness accounts cited by international media.
The protest marches against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and the Baath party rule got under way in several Syrian cities after Muslim prayers on Friday, Al Jazeera reported, including the flashpoint city of Daraa.
Syrian forces reportedly fired tear gas at protesters in the suburb of Douma, and in the coastal cities of Latakia and Banias. In the afternoon government forces started using live fire against the protesters in the Douma suburb.
Another person is reported killed and 30 were injured in the village of Sanamin, besieged by the Syrian army, when people from nearby villages were barred from paying their respects to those killed earlier in the week.
Al Jazeera points out that for the first time, the government acknowledged there were pro-reform demonstrations in cities, but said there was no friction between security forces and protesters.
Syria's SANA news agency said worshippers left mosques in Daraa and Latakia "chanting slogan in honor of the martyr and calling for speeding up measures for reform".
The rallies, taking place for the third week in succession after Friday prayers, come two days after Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, labeled them a foreign conspiracy.
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