Thousands of protesters massed across Syria after weekly Muslim prayers yesterday as a global outcry widened over a deadly crackdown on month-old, anti-regime demonstrations.

The protesters took to the streets, clashing with police, in the city of Daraa as well as other centres in the Kurdish-populated northwest, a day after embattled President Bashar al-Assad unveiled a new government.

Activists said up to 3,000 protesters marched to the centre of Daraa and more were on their way to the southern city, where security forces shot dead at least seven people last Friday.

“Between 2,500 and 3,000 people showed up at Al-Saraya area in the centre of the city, chanting slogans in favour of freedom and against the hostile regime,” said the activist on condition of anonymity. Security forces clashed with police while protesters also chanted “Death rather than humiliation!” he said, adding that other demonstrators were “going to come from nearby villages”.

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