Protests ripple across Syria; at least 7 dead

Rima Maktabi and Salma Abdelaziz
CNN

(CNN) - At least seven people died and dozens were injured as Syrian troops assaulted demonstrators who took to the streets after Friday prayers, witnesses and activists said.

Troops used gunfire amid protests in the Damascus suburb of Douma, according to witnesses and opposition sources, and one witness saw at least six dead demonstrators taken into a hospital morgue. Witnesses also said a man was shot in the head with a rubber bullet and dozens were injured.

Another death and 10 injuries occurred when troops shot at protesters marching toward the southern town of Al Sanameen, witnesses said.

Protests also were reported by witnesses in the cities of Daraa, Latakia, Homs, Baniyas and Kamishli, sources said. Opposition sources cited witnesses in Homs as saying thousands of people had gathered around a mosque.

Security forces used tear gas in several locations to try to disperse demonstrators, witnesses said.

Anti-government activists had promised demonstrations in Syria on Friday to air their grievances against the Bashar al-Assad government.

Tensions have been high as dozens of people have been killed recently in Daraa in the south and Latakia in the west - both centers of ferment.

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