Syrian forces kill 7 activists

SYRIAN security forces killed at least seven people yesterday, after thousands took to the streets charging that President Bashar Assad never intended to abide by an Arab League plan to end violence, activists said.

The bloodshed was a blow to the 22-nation Arab League, which announced on Wednesday that Damascus agreed to a broad plan that included an end to violence against demonstrators.

Opposition groups called for a large turnout in yesterday’s protests to test whether the regime would in fact refrain from using deadly force.