City hit by deadly clashes

Last updated 9 April 2011 01:48 am Lina Sinjab to the reports of shootings in the protests in the Syrian city of Deraa. Amateur video on the Internet appear show demonstrations in Syria at Friday.At at least 23 protesters during anti-Government demonstrations in the southern Syrian Deraa were killed, said bear witness to the BBC.

There are also unconfirmed reports of deaths in Homs, Duma, Harasta, as protests of the country.

However, said State Syrian TV, 19 members of the security forces "of armed groups" Deraa was killed.

Deraa since is a focus which broke anti-Government protests in Syria mid-March riots.

The protests have made an unprecedented challenge to President Bashar al-Assad 11-year rule. He has offered to consider reforms, but activists say, his proposals go not far enough.

President Barack Obama said us violence against demonstrators was "despicable".

"I condemn any use of violence by demonstrators," he added.

Continue reading the most important story Lina Sinjab BBC News, Damascus

Further protests and sit-ins are fuel across the country with rage over the death in Deraa reported demonstrators.

There are concerns that could exacerbate the situation in the country.

Protesters demands for more political freedom does not meet, and promise of the leadership are regularly followed by security crackdown and more killing.

'Pool of blood' activist in Deraa told told AFP by telephone that demonstrators from three mosques marched had but "security forces in civilian clothes dressed", confronted tear gas were left to the main municipal court to disperse them.

An another protestor said the BBC NewsHour program: "after the prayer everyone... the city went." The police and the army do not allow it go through and joined them. We have dead in it around 13 people at the beginning and then everyone got attacked. "All crying for freedom, at the beginning, but any change in the whole thing now questions questions."

A resident of Reuters cited reported see area of the Deraa "Pools of blood and three bodies" in the Mahatta.

Also in Deraa, demonstrators bashed a stone statue of Basil al-Assad - President of Assad's late brother - Reuters reported, citing witnesses.

Last month, tear down demonstrators in Deraa a statue of President Assad father - former President Hafez al-Assad.

Attacked an Office of the ruling Baath party in the area of Mahatta to set on fire, the witness added.

State television said "Saboteurs and conspirators" fire Deraa, opened killed 19 members of the security forces and wounding 75.

Fresh protests reported was also in cities such as Al Qamishli, Hasakhe, Idlib, Banyas, Hama and Homs.

The city has Duma, in the vicinity of Damascus, off, seals were our correspondent adds, with Internet and mobile phone blocking communication.

Harasta on the edge of which is capital, it also reports of gunfire and tear gas at protesters is thrown in.

In the northern cities with Kurdish majorities, demonstrators reportedly called "to freedom, not just citizenship in response to President Assad to grant citizenship to Kurds in Syria we call Hasakah Eastern region on Thursday".

Thousands will have reported, started to a sit-in in the central city of Homs. Witness who said coastal city of Latakia hundreds for political freedom call largely had participated in peaceful protest.

President Assad has offered to consider reforms, but activists say, his proposals go not far enough

To break security forces water cannons and smoke bombs used in Hama, a 2,000 strong protest in the old quarter of the city, Reuters reported, citing residents.

The BBC's Lina Sinjab in Damascus says demonstrators in many cities and towns in the whole Syria took to the street call on Friday for greater freedom, but after hearing of the deaths in Deraa were the calls for the regime will be overthrown.

She says it's frustration that President Assad has so far implemented no reforms. The fear is that there will be more bloodshed and crackdown on protesters, she adds.

Activists estimate that more than 130 people have died in four weeks of clashes, mostly in Deraa and Latakia.

Officials say, that the death toll is closer to 30 and they responsible make, the violence on armed groups and foreigners attempts to bring the country to columns.

Syria is one of several countries in the Middle East and popular revolts in Tunisia and Egypt, which dropped longtime autocratic ruler affected to North Africa by a wave of pro-democracy protests after.

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