Syrian security forces shot dead at least 26 protesters Friday, a rights group said, as thousands rallied on a "Day of Defiance" against the autocratic regime of President Bashar al-Assad. At the same time, armed gangs killed one officer and four policemen, state news agency SANA said.
In Brussels, the European Union agreed to impose sanctions on 13 Syrian officials involved in the regime's brutal crackdown on protests and will meet Monday to discuss whether to target Assad as well, diplomats said. The Syrian rights group, Insan, put the day's toll at 26 killed but said it expected this to rise.
"Death toll for today is 26," Insan said in a statement received by AFP in Nicosia. The toll included 16 protesters killed in the central city of Homs, six in Hama north of Damascus and two in the Mediterranean town of Jableh. "We have a list of 27 more names. We are verifying at the moment," the brief statement said. Rights activist Najati Tayara, speaking to AFP from Homs, said security forces opened fire to disperse protests after weekly Muslim prayers in the central city, killing eight people and wounding several, some seriously.
Tanks entered the industrial city earlier and also rolled into other protest centres across Syria. "Dozens of people were arrested in several districts of the city during the night between Thursday and Friday," Tayara said by phone from Homs. Using loudspeakers, security forces ordered residents who took part in protests to voluntarily go to police stations "to avoid being arrested and punished" and ordered businesses to close and residents to stay indoors, activists said.
The interior ministry issued a statement Friday urging citizens to refrain from taking part in any protests in a bid "to contribute significantly to stability and security." SANA said an "armed criminal group" opened fire fired on a security checkpoint in Baba Amr in Homs, killing an officer and four policemen," adding that assailants also mutilated the bodies.