Syria forces 'kill two children'

Syrian forces have killed at least five people – including two children – as they fired on anti-government demonstrations across the country today, reports say.

The violence comes as the government tries to choke off a nine-month-old popular uprising demanding the ousting of President Bashar Assad.

Mr Assad has refused to buckle to the pressure, and the United Nations estimates more than 4,000 people have been killed in the government crackdown on dissent.

Two boys, aged 10 and 12, were shot dead near separate government checkpoints in Homs, a centre of opposition to the regime, according to activists.

Security forces also reportedly fired on protests in Homs, the Damascus suburbs and the eastern city of Deir el-Zour.

In the southern town of Daraa, activists said telephone and internet lines were cut.

The death toll was compiled from reports by the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the activist coalition called the Local Co-ordinating Committees.

Homs has emerged as the epicentre of the uprising.

A major Syrian pipeline carrying oil to a refinery in Homs province was blown up on Thursday in an attack the government blamed on terrorists.

But the opposition accuses the government of playing on fears of religious extremism and terrorism to rally support behind Assad, who has portrayed himself as the only force that can stabilise the country.