Thousands called for liberty Thursday in the southern Syrian city of Daraa, defying a deadly government crackdown as they took to the streets in funeral marches for protesters killed by police gunfire, an activist said. Media access to the marches was restricted but an Associated Press reporter heard sporadic bursts of gunfire echoing through the city in the afternoon. Almost all shops were shuttered, the streets were virtually empty and soldiers and anti-terrorism police stopped people at checkpoints and manned many intersections - the heaviest security presence since the unrest began.
Security troops were in total control of the area around al-Omari mosque, where protesters had been holed up earlier and where most of Wednesday's fighting occurred. Syrian officials escorted a small group of photographers to the mosque to show they were now in control. (read more)
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