.- Syrian security forces shot dead eight people Friday, activists said, after protesters defied a nationwide offensive launched by President Bashar al-Assad to end the revolt. Human rights groups estimate that at least a thousand people have been killed in the 10 weeks of rioting. Leaders of the Group of Eight rich nations met in France said they were "dismayed" by the death of peaceful protesters, and demanded an immediate end to the use of force.
On Friday, activists said three protesters were killed in the central city of Homs, three in the suburbs of Damascus Qatana, one in the town of Zabadani near the border with Lebanon and another in the northwestern province of Idlib. The troops also fired on protesters demanding "the overthrow of the regime" in the eastern town of Deir al-Zor, residents said, and a human rights group.
Later, anti-government rallies held at night in a town square, according to a witness. Deir al-Zor is the capital of the province of the same name and produced many of the 380 billion barrels of oil in Syria. "The 'Amn' (security police) fired into the air to disperse them but they did not move.
I have two kids in the crowd," said a witness in the city. "Demands on the streets of Deir al-Zor were ' freedom, justice and equality. " These changed to 'overthrow the regime "when the Amn began to kill the demonstrators," he added. The public anger in the region has intensified water shortages in recent years, some experts say is due to mismanagement and corruption.
Activists said the demonstrators continued to protest overnight in Hama. Tens of thousands of people marched earlier in the city, where in 1982 the government launched an armed offensive to crush an Islamic revolt, killing up to 30 thousand people. Also today, troops opened fire on a group of young people marched through the night in the town of Madaya, one resident said.
Damascus has ignored the growing condemnation and sanctions from the West and seems determined to crush pro-democracy uprising by sending their forces security and tanks to disperse the demonstrations, which they say are urged armed groups supported by foreign forces. In a statement issued at G-8 summit, the leaders of the seven Western powers and Russia called on Damascus to meet " the legitimate demands of liberty, "the Syrian people.
The state television said nine" martyrs ", including police and civilians, were killed by armed groups on Friday. Authorities say at least 120 soldiers and policemen have been killed since protests emerged in March. 
On Friday, activists said three protesters were killed in the central city of Homs, three in the suburbs of Damascus Qatana, one in the town of Zabadani near the border with Lebanon and another in the northwestern province of Idlib. The troops also fired on protesters demanding "the overthrow of the regime" in the eastern town of Deir al-Zor, residents said, and a human rights group.
Later, anti-government rallies held at night in a town square, according to a witness. Deir al-Zor is the capital of the province of the same name and produced many of the 380 billion barrels of oil in Syria. "The 'Amn' (security police) fired into the air to disperse them but they did not move.
I have two kids in the crowd," said a witness in the city. "Demands on the streets of Deir al-Zor were ' freedom, justice and equality. " These changed to 'overthrow the regime "when the Amn began to kill the demonstrators," he added. The public anger in the region has intensified water shortages in recent years, some experts say is due to mismanagement and corruption.
Activists said the demonstrators continued to protest overnight in Hama. Tens of thousands of people marched earlier in the city, where in 1982 the government launched an armed offensive to crush an Islamic revolt, killing up to 30 thousand people. Also today, troops opened fire on a group of young people marched through the night in the town of Madaya, one resident said.
Damascus has ignored the growing condemnation and sanctions from the West and seems determined to crush pro-democracy uprising by sending their forces security and tanks to disperse the demonstrations, which they say are urged armed groups supported by foreign forces. In a statement issued at G-8 summit, the leaders of the seven Western powers and Russia called on Damascus to meet " the legitimate demands of liberty, "the Syrian people.
The state television said nine" martyrs ", including police and civilians, were killed by armed groups on Friday. Authorities say at least 120 soldiers and policemen have been killed since protests emerged in March.
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