Syria forces fire 'nail bombs' as masses protest

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Syrian forces were accused of firing nail bombs to disperse protesters on Friday as tens of thousands flooded the streets across the country in a bid to make their voices heard by Arab monitors.

The protesters called for the overthrow and prosecution of President Bashar al-Assad, whose autocratic regime has been blamed for the deaths of more than 5,000 people since pro-reform protests erupted in March.

Activists urged the Arab monitors, who this week started a mission to oversee an Arab League plan to end the bloodshed, to do more to protect civilians from regime forces which they killed said another 15 civilians on Friday.

"We urge you to make a clear distinction between the assassin and the victim," activists of the Syrian Revolution 2011 said on their Facebook page.

"Our revolution which was launched nine months ago is peaceful," they said.

Friday's dead included at least 11 civilians killed as security forces opened fire to disperse protesters, and two more killed along with two army deserters in an ambush by government troops, a watchdog said.

Huge demonstrations rocked northwestern Idlib province and Douma, a Damascus suburb where protesters clashed with security forces who fired 'nail bombs' to disperse them, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

At least 24 protesters were hurt when security forces fired 'nail bombs to disperse tens of thousands of demonstrators in Douma', the Britain-based watchdog said, adding that protesters 'hurled stones' in retaliation.

The report could not be independently verified.

Security forces also fired 'stun grenades and tear gas' in Douma as 60,000-70,000 demonstrators headed to city hall, which the Arab observers visited on Thursday.

It was the 'biggest' demonstration in the restive suburb since the urpsing began in March, the Observatory said.