Syrian security forces killed at least 20 protesters today despite promises by President Bashar Assad that the military operations against the five-month-old uprising are over.

Syrian tanks today rolled toward the tense central city of Hama, still mourning the deaths of dozens of protesters.

SYRIAN government troops backed by tanks yesterday attacked two central towns that have seen intense protests against President Bashar Assad’s regime, while security forces opened fire at demonstrators in several parts of the country causing casualties, activists said.

Thousands of Syrians defied an unrelenting government crackdown and flooded the streets across the country to buttress their two-month uprising against the country’s authoritarian regime.

Syrian security forces opened fire on protesters around the country today, activists said.

At least nine people have been killed when Syrian security forces opened fire on protests around the country, activists said.

Syrian security forces were carrying out house-to-house raids across the country today, detaining hundreds of people as part of a widening crackdown on anti-government protests, a rights activist said.

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.

Gunfire and shelling rattled a city in central Syria today killing a 12-year-old boy, as President Bashar Assad’s autocratic regime expanded its military crackdown on a seven-week-old uprising, activists said.

Syrian tanks rolled into a Mediterranean coastal town today in an escalating crackdown by President Bashar Assad, just a day after clashes with anti-government protesters left at least 30 dead nationwide.

SYRIAN security forces opened fire on protesters, killing at least six people as thousands joined demonstrations across the country calling for an end to President Bashar Assad’s regime, witnesses and activists said.

Four people were killed when Syrian army troops backed by tanks and three helicopters took a prominent mosque that had been controlled by residents in a besieged southern city today, a witness said.

Military reinforcements poured into the besieged southern Syrian town of Daraa today, a day after President Bashar Assad unleashed deadly force to crush a months-old revolt, killing at least 65 people.

More than 200 members have quit Syria’s ruling Baath party to protest at President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on opponents, a human rights activist says.

Gunfire and sporadic explosions rattled Daraa today after the Syrian army sent in more tanks and reinforcements as part of a widening crackdown.

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

Syrian security forces fired bullets and tear gas at pro-democracy demonstrations across the country today, killing at least 49 people – including a young boy – in the bloodiest day of the uprising against President Bashar Assad’s authoritarian regime, witnesses and a human rights group said.

Syrian security forces fired live bullets and tear gas on pro-democracy demonstrations across the country today, killing at least 27 people – including a young boy – as the uprising against President Bashar Assad’s authoritarian regime defied a deadly security crackdown, witnesses said.

Security forces have surrounded a port city in Syria where protesters are gathering for another day of demonstrations against the country’s authoritarian regime.

SYRIAN security forces killed at least three protesters in a Damascus suburb yesterday, witnesses said, as thousands turned out in pro-democracy marches despite a reform gesture by President Bashar al-Assad.