22 May 2011

Mourners killed at funeral for protesters

6:47 am on 22 May 2011

Security forces in Syria killed at least five people and wounded at least 12 when live rounds were fired into a funeral crowd in Homs. The funeral was for protesters killed on Friday.

Witnesses reported that the shooting began as mourners were leaving the Nasr cemetery.

Security forces shot dead at least 44 people on Friday as mass protests swept the country after prayers.

Human rights groups say at least 850 people have been killed in weeks of demonstrations against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

The BBC says reports from Syria are hard to verify independently, as foreign journalists are not allowed into the country.