28 killed in Syria as US, Turkey slam regime

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DAMASCUS: Syrian forces backed by helicopters killed at least 28 people at nationwide protests for democracy on Friday, as the United States said it is stepping up pressure on President Bashar al-Assad to step down.

The latest deaths came as security forces launched a long-feared crackdown in the northwest flashpoint town of Jisr al-Shughur near the border with Turkey.

Protesters poured on to the streets of main towns and cities after the Jumma prayers, many chanting slogans against Assad and in support of Jisr al-Shughur residents.

Security forces shot dead at least 28 anti-regime protesters, including 11 in the northwest, rights activists said. In Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province, security forces fired on a large crowd and killed at least 11 people, activists said.

Rami Abdel Rahman head of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported "helicopters flying over" Maaret al-Numan as another activist who spoke on condition of anonymity said "helicopters bombarded the town."

State television reported that "intense fire by groups of armed terrorists on a security headquarters caused dead and wounded among the police and security forces" in the town.

Nine people were also killed in the port city of Latakia, Abdel Rahman said. He said another two were killed in the Bosra al-Harir area of southern Daraa province, an epicentre of pro-democracy protests that have shaken Syria since mid-March.

Washington and its allies are looking to increase pressure on Assad, a State Department spokesman said. "(Assad) has refused to reform, refused even to make any gesture towards reform other than empty rhetoric," Mark Toner told reporters.