Syrian protests draw deadly fire - At least 27 Dead !

Syrian security forces have killed at least 34 people, including an 11-year-old boy, according to witnesses, in the latest crackdown on anti-government protests.

Twelve people were killed in the central city of Homs, while 15 died in the town of Maaret al-Naaman, located near the western city of Idlib, activists said.

Two protesters were shot in the southern region of Deraa, one person was shot in the Damascus suburb of Daraya and one in the port city of Latakia.

Two more died in the eastern town of Deir Ezzor and one person killed in the central town of Hama.

The dead in Homs included two boys, named as Aiham al-Ahmad, 11, and 16-year-old Ahmad Bakr, witnesses said.

A witness told Al Jazeera they were shot when police officers opened fire on Friday, after their vehicle crashed into a wall and was attacked by protesters.

The attack took place after officers drove police cars into a crowd of about 2,000 demonstrators in an attempt to disperse them, a second witness said.

After hitting several protesters, one of the cars crashed into a wall, prompting the officers to jump out and open fire. Four other protesters were also killed, while at least seven others were wounded.

In a separate incident, three residents were killed when security forces attempted to storm a hospital in the al-Wa'r neighbourhood of Homs, according to a witness.

Locals responded by forming a human chain around the hospital, in an attempt to prevent the police arresting wounded protesters inside. The witness said some locals had shot at the police using handguns.

Al Jazeera is unable to verify the reports because of restrictions on reporting imposed by Syria's government.

20 killed as Syrian forces fire on innocent protesters - Syrian Uprise in Progress !

Syrian security forces have opened fire on anti-government protesters in the city of Sanamin near Daraa which killed at least 20 people.


"There are more than 20 martyrs .... brutal security forces opened fire haphazardly," he further said.


Syrian forces had apparently fired after protesters set fire to a statue of the late president, Hafez al-Assad. 


Footage on YouTube also showed protesters in the cental square of Daraa dismantling a portrait of his son, Bashar al-Assad, the current president.


Reuters reported that heavy gunfire could be heard in the southern city of Daraa, the focal point for demonstrations against Bashar al-Assad's regime in recent days.



Three people were also reported killed in Mouadamieh district of Damascus after a crowd confronted a procession of cars driven by supporters of president Bashar al-Assad, residents said, according to Reuters.


Regime supporters take to streets


But regime supporters also took to the streets in sizeable numbers on Friday, waving flags and images of al-Assad. A large crowd gathered in the evening outside Al Jazeera's bureau in Damascus, demanding to be shown on the network.


"Thousands and thousands are now out in the streets of the capital, driving around the capital, showing their support for President Aasad. There is no doubt the president does have support in this country. Bashar al-Assad is a popular leader," said Al Jazeera's correspondent Zeina Khodr.


But Anas al-Abda, the chairman of the Movement for Justice and Development in Syria, told Al Jazeera News Agency that pro-government demonstrations were "most probably fabricated and organised by the regime".


Earlier, Reem Haddad, from the Syrian information ministry, told Al Jazeera that security forces had been given the order not to shoot at protesters "no matter what happens".


"But things took on a different hue because inside these peaceful demonstrations there was another group of people who were armed ... and were shooting at the security forces and were shooting at other citizens in Daraa. At the end of the day this became a matter of national security."


But an eyewitness told Al Jazeera that "there were no people carrying arms among demonstrators".


"What happened in the square ... was live ammunition, I was present myself and I saw the youth and other young demonstrators leading a peaceful demonstration. 


"They were chanting slogans calling for freedom and transparency and an end [to] corruption."


source Al Jazeera + Reuters