21 killed in protests across Syria

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DAMASCUS: Syrian security forces shot dead at least 21 people, including a child, as pro-democracy protests swept the country on Friday after weekly prayers, with demonstrators pressing on with calls for more freedom in defiance of a fierce crackdown, activists said.

The child and eight other people were killed in the central city of Homs while seven people died in the town of Maaret al-Naaman, near the western city of Idlib, the activists said.

Two people were killed in the region of Daraa, epicentre of protests that have gripped Syria since March 15, one died in Daraya, a suburb of Damascus, and one in the coastal town of Latakia, they said.

Protests were also reported in several other towns across the country.

A militant said a demonstration was held outside a mosque in central Damascus but it was quickly dispersed by the security forces.

Another activist in Homs reported that security services stormed a local hospital and removed several wounded along with the body of a victim. (AFP)