Activists: At Least 15 Killed in Protests Across Syria
Protesters march through the streets after Friday prayers in the Hajar Al Asswad in Damascus, Syria, June 24, 2011
Witnesses and activists in Syria say at least 15 people were killed Friday when security forces fired on crowds as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets nationwide in another round of demonstrations aimed at overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad.
The demonstrators gathered throughout the north and around the capital, Damascus, despite a heavy military presence and the fear of the continuing military crackdown. Protesters have been under assault by pro-government forces for more than 100 days.
Rami Abdel Rahman, an activist with the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told the French news agency by telephone from the town of Kiswah that security forces opened fire on demonstrators there and wounded an unknown number of people.