MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Syrian security forces fire on anti government protests; at least seven killed

People took to the streets after Friday’s prayers (Photo Reuters)

At least seven people have been killed in another day of anti-government protests in several Syrian cities, activists have said. Protest marches against Baath Party rule broke out in cities in the north and south after Friday prayers, including in the flashpoint city of Daraa.

Hundreds of people took to the streets in and around the capital, Damascus, on Friday afternoon as security forces and ruling party loyalists attacked protesters with batons in Rifaii mosque in the city.

Syrian forces reportedly fired tear gas at protesters in the suburb of Douma, and in the coastal cities of Latakia and Banias.

Al Jazeera's Rula Amin, reporting from Damascus, said at least four people were killed in the afternoon after government forces started using live fire against protesters in Douma. “Some protesters told us they were there chanting for freedom peacefully”.

“The security forces in plain clothes tried to disperse them with sticks ... people started running into the alleys, and then the security forces started shooting at them.”

Al Jazeera reported that at least four people were killed and 30 injured in the village of Sanamin, besieged by the Syrian army, when people from nearby villages were barred from paying their respects to those killed earlier in the week.

Syria's SANA news agency said a girl was killed in the industrial city of Homs north of Damascus after gunmen opened fire on civilians.

For the first time, the government acknowledged there were pro-reform demonstrations in cities, but said there was no friction between security forces and protesters.

The state news agency said worshippers left mosques in Daraa and Latakia “chanting slogans in honour of the martyr and calling for speeding up measures for reform”, adding there were “no clashes between worshippers and security forces in these gatherings”.

The rallies, taking place for the third week in succession after Friday prayers, come two days after Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, labelled them a foreign conspiracy.

Al Jazeera's said it was significant that protests were taking place despite the president's speech and the three government announcements on Thursday to address some of the protesters' demands.

Activists estimate more than 160 people have been killed by security forces in the protests - dubbed “Friday of Martyrs” after weekly Muslim prayers across Syria, mainly in Daraa. Officials say about 30 people have died and accuse Muslim extremists and “armed gangs” of pushing peaceful rallies into violence with the aim of inciting sectarian unrest in the country.