72 dead in Syria's bloodiest day of unrest

AMMAN: Syrian security forces killed at least 70 protesters on Friday, rights activists said, the bloodiest day in a month of escalating pro-democracy demonstrations against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian rights organisation Sawasiah said 70 civilians had been killed across the country, in the biggest demonstrations to sweep Syria so far.

Wissam Tarif, director of human rights group Insan, gave a similar death toll. "At least 72 people have been killed so far. The number of injured exceeds 80 people in Homs and its villages and the villages (near the southern city) of Deraa," he told.

It was not possible to independently confirm the figures.

Tens of thousands of people had taken to the streets of cities across Syria and called for the "overthrow of the regime", reflecting the hardening of demands which initially focused on reforms and greater freedoms.

The protests went ahead despite Assad's lifting of the state of emergency the day before. Ending the hated emergency rule, in place since the Baath Party seized power 48 years ago, was a central demand of demonstrators, who also seek the release of political prisoners and dismantling of the security services.

Friday's violence brings the death toll to about 300, according to rights activists, since the unrest which broke out on March 18 in the southern city of Deraa. Activists cited the highest toll in the nearby village of Izra'a where protesters had been trying to head for Deraa. Residents said 14 people were killed.

"Izra'a is in the dark. No mobile phones or landlines working. People have been talking from villages near to Izraa but not in the town," said Wissam Tarif of human rights organisation, Insan, who had 12 confirmed killed in Izra'a.

Syrian television said eight people were killed and 28wounded, including army personnel, in attacks by armed groups in the village. It added an armed group had attacked a military base in the Damascus suburb of Muadhamiya.

As in the Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings, citizens are rebelling against both a lack of freedom and opportunity and security forces' impunity and corruption that has enriched the elite while one-third of Syrians live below the poverty line.