Syrian city hit by deadly clashes

Lina Sinjab on the reports of shootings at the protests in the Syrian city of Deraa At least 13 protesters have been killed during anti-government rallies in the southern Syrian city of Deraa, witnesses have told the BBC. Residents near the Al Omari mosque said they had seen at least 13 bodies in that area and more wounded. However, officials said only a member of the security forces and an ambulance worker had been killed. Deraa has been a focus of unrest since anti-government protests erupted across Syria in mid-March. The protests have posed an unprecedented challenge to President Bashar al-Assad's 11-year rule. Thousands are reported to have staged rallies following Friday prayers in Deraa. Eyewitnesses said security forces had opened fire on crowds chanting pro-democracy slogans, the BBC's Lina Sinjab reports. Another activist in Deraa told AFP news agency by telephone that demonstrators leaving from three mosques had marched to the city's main court but were confronted by "security forces dressed in civilian clothing" who fired tear gas to disperse them. He said protesters had thrown stones and clashes ensued. A resident quoted by Reuters reported seeing "pools of blood and three bodies" in the Mahatta area of Deraa. The official Sana news agency said one member of the security forces and an ambulance worker had been killed and dozens of other people wounded. State television showed footage from the protests and said that "saboteurs and conspirators opened fire on residents and security forces". Fresh protests have also been reported in cities including Qamishli, Hasakhe, Idlib, Banyas and Homs. The town of Duma, near Damascus, has been sealed off, our correspondent adds, with internet and mobile phone communications blocked. In northern cities with Kurdish majorities, protesters were reportedly chanting "we are calling for freedom and not only for citizenship" in response to President Assad granting citizenship for Kurds in Syria's eastern Hasaka region on Thursday.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditionsThis article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

cell phones cell phone spyware cell spy mobile spy