Activists: at least 15 killed in protests across Syria - voice of America

March of demonstrators through the streets after prayers on Friday in the Asswad from Al Hajar in Damascus, Syria, June 24, 2011

Witnesses and Syria activists say at least 15 people were killed on Friday when security forces fired into crowds, as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the country in another round of demonstrations aimed at overthrowing President Bashar al - Assad.

The demonstrators gathered along the North and around the capital, Damascus, despite a strong military presence and the fear of the ongoing military repression. Protesters have been under attack by pro-Government forces for more than 100 days.

Rami Abdel Rahman, an activist with the Syrian Observatory in London for human rights, told French news agency by telephone from the city of Kiswah, security forces opened fire on demonstrators there and injured an undetermined number of people.

The Reuters news agency, said a resident in Barzeh, said that the forces of security first used tear gas against the protesters and then began firing on them from rooftops when they continued shouting against Mr. Assad.

In the suburb of Irbin Damascus, protesters shouted, "Tell the world Bashar is no legitimacy".

They reported deaths near Damascus and elsewhere. Syria State television blamed "armed gangs" to shoot at the security forces in a suburb of Damascus, killing three people.

Details of the violence on Friday did not independently confirmed, largely because Syria does not allow external media to cover the protests. Activists say that the Suppression of Syria has killed at least 1,400 people in the past three months.

Turkish officials said Friday that more than 1,500 Syrian refugees crossed the border into Turkey once the Syrian troops stormed the city of Khirbet al - Jouz.

According to estimates by the Turkish Government, almost 12,000 Syrians are now in the big tent in Turkey camps.

Syrian troops say that 500 metres from the border.

Implementation of Syria is the closest thing his troops arrived in Turkish territory since the military operations in the area began two weeks ago. Turkish troops moved their positions of border several hundred meters, apparently to avoid possible confrontations with Syrian units.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the scene of the border is "very worrying" and has advised Syria to withdraw its troops. She says that her presence is worsening an already bad for refugees and the risk situation leading to the Turkish border clashes.

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