At least eight killed during Syrian demos

At least eight people were killed during anti-regime demonstrations yesterday across Syria, including four in two different suburbs of the capital Damascus, the head of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

“We have three people killed in the southern town of Dael, three others in the Damascus suburb of Qatana, one in the suburb of Zabadani and another in Jableh, located near the coastal city of Latakia,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, who was reached by telephone.

The killings took place as pro-democracy protesters again took to the streets in several cities and towns across the country after Muslim Friday prayers, in what has become a weekly ritual.

At least 1,000 people have been killed and 10,000 others arrested since the revolt began mid-March, rights groups say.

Foreign journalists have been barred from travel inside Syria to report on the unrest.