At least 38 protesters were killed by security forces during massive demonstrations on Friday across Syria, in one of the bloodiest days since pro-democracy protests erupted in mid-March, witnesses and activists told AFP by telephone.
The toll has been steadily rising throughout the day, according to the sources reached by AFP in Nicosia, with early reports speaking of at least 15 dead and that figure more than doubling by late afternoon.
Dozens of people were also wounded when security forces opened fire with live rounds to disperse protesters who took to the streets in several cities in response to calls for “Good Friday” rallies, they said.
At least 14 people were killed in the town of Ezreh, in the southern province of Daraa, the epicentre of pro-reform and anti-regime protests. —AFP