At least two protesters in Syria were reported to have been killed when government forces fired live ammunition to disperse pro-democracy protests after Friday prayers.
President Bashar al-Assad's troops and tanks have intensified assaults to crush a six-month uprising.
According to the United Nations, 2700 people have been killed in the unrest.
The government says 700 police and army have been killed by terrorists and mutineers.
Mr Assad has promised reform and has changed some laws, but his opponents say they have made no difference.
Events from Syria are hard to verify as international journalists are largely prevented from reporting there.
