20 dead in Syria as Russia defends Assad

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Security forces in Syria shot dead at least 20 people around the central city of Hama on Monday, a rights group said, as activists called for a day of protest against Russia for backing the regime.

"The toll of victims from the operation mounted by security forces and the army in the Hama area has risen to 17 dead," the Britain-based group told AFP in Cyprus. More than 60 people were arrested, it said.

The Observatory also reported a 12-year-old boy killed in Douma, near Damascus, by gunfire from security forces who fired on a funeral, and a man and his son killed in the central province of Homs in the town of Al-Rastan.

The latest violence comes after pro-democracy activists called for a "day of anger" on Tuesday in protest at Russia's backing for President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime has waged a deadly six-month crackdown on protesters.

"Do not support the killers. Do not kill the Syrians with your position" in favour of the regime, activists urged Russia in a posting on The Syrian Revolution 2011, a Facebook page that has been the engine for the revolt.

They wrote that a "day of anger" against Russia would be held on Tuesday.

"We express our anger towards Russia and the Russian government. The regime will disappear, but the people will live," the posting said.

Russia has blocked attempts by the United Nations to sanction Assad's regime and is promoting a separate draft resolution that simply calls on the government and the opposition to open direct talks.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday defended the Syrian regime against sanctions for its crackdown, and also warned visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron of the dangers of such a move.

Cameron met Medvedev in Moscow for talks focusing on Syria and bilateral disputes as global frustration mounted with Russia's continued support for its ally.

A visiting Assad aide said 1,400 people - half of them Syrian security and army forces - had died in violence since the demonstrations erupted in mid-March.

However, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says 2,600 people have been killed in the crackdown.