At Least 15 Reported Killed In Syrian Protests Crackdown

Tens of thousands of Syrians have taken part in a fresh wave of demonstrations around the country.

Rights activists in Syria say security forces have shot dead at least 15 people, as tens of thousands of protesters took part in a fresh wave of demonstrations against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Deaths are reported to have occurred on June 24 in the capital Damascus as well as in Homs and Kiswah.

A Syrian state-run television report blamed civilian killings in the Barzeh district of Damascus on unidentified armed men.

Activists say more than 1,300 people have been killed and thousands of others detained since the authorities launched a crackdown on antigovernment protests that began in March.

Syrian authorities say Islamist militants and armed gangs have killed more than 200 police and security personnel during the unrest.

compiled from agency reports