SYRIAN president Bashar al-Assad has denied ordering the killing of thousands of protesters and said “only a crazy person” would target his own people, as global pressure mounted on his regime.

Tens of thousands of Syrians shouting "We want freedom!" carried killed protesters through the streets today as opposition figures meeting in Turkey called for a united front to bring down the 40-year ruling dynasty of the Assad family.

GUNFIRE and shelling rattled a city in central Syria yesterday and killed a 12-year-old boy, as president Bashar Assad’s regime expanded its military crackdown on a seven-week-old uprising.

The besieged people of Daraa braved sniper fire to pull the bullet-riddled bodies of their dead from the streets today.