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Summary Protests broke out in cities across Syria, as people took to streets to demand greater freedoms.
The large turnout came despite a fierce security crackdown and vague promises of reform by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Amateur video posted on a social media website appeared to show security forces opening fire on demonstrators in a residential street of Latakia, in the west of Syria. Human rights campaigners said that security forces had attacked protesters in the city, but did not have any information about any deaths.Protests against Assad also swept into the capital Damascus on Friday for the first time the unrest began over four weeks ago. Amateur video appeared to show a peaceful protest through the streets of the capital. However, security forces used batons and teargas to prevent thousands of protesters marching from several suburbs from reaching the main Abbasside Square.Rights activists also reported protests in the southern city of Deraa, where the first demonstrations began, and amateur video appeared to show a large crowd chanting anti-government slogans in the city. Rights groups say at least 200 people have been killed in Syria since the protests started. Authorities blame ‘infiltrators’ for stirring up unrest at the bidding of outside players, including Lebanon and Islamist groups.But Assads use of force, mass arrests and accusations that armed groups have instigated the unrest, mixed with promises for reform and concessions to minority groups and conservative Muslims, have not placated protesters inspired by popular uprisings which toppled the leaders in Tunisia and Egypt.
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