Death Toll in Syria Rises

Six months into the Syrian unrest, crackdowns on protests across the country persist, as more than 20 people were shot dead by Syrian forces on Friday in suburbs around Damascus.

According to activists, most of the killings occurred in the proximity of Hama,

A lot of amateur footage has been uploaded on video hosting sites showing the violence nationwide but Al Arabiya is unable to verify the authenticity of the images.

In the suburb of Douma, chaos took over the streets, with people running frantically as gunshots rang out. In another video, crowds were seen gathering after Friday prayers.

Elsewhere in Bab-Amro, Homs, masses came together and chanted “Syria needs freedom”, saying they will continue to protest until the regime is overthrown.

While protests grow so does the deployment of tanks and solidiers, as they hit various demonstration hubs, including the town of Idlib which borders Turkey.

The crackdown has also contributed to a new influx of refugees into the bordering country say Turkish officials.

Meanwhile, according to the Lebanese army, Syrian forces entered Lebanese territory on Thursday in a hunt for civilians believed to be fugitives by Syrian authorities.