Security forces have shot and killed at least 16 anti-government protesters in Syria, as the government continues to widen its crackdown on dissent.
Activists and witnesses say security forces used live ammunition on protesters in several cities on Friday, after thousands of Syrians poured into the streets with renewed calls for President Bashar al-Assad's resignation.
Western news reports say at least two of the deaths occurred in the flashpoint city of Homs and two in the eastern town of Deir el-Zour. At least one teenager is among those killed.
Anti-government rallies are underway in other cities, including Daraa, Latakia and near the capital, Damascus.
The unrest spilled over into neighboring Lebanon on Friday, where two people were killed following a protest against Mr. Assad's regime. Residents from a Sunni Muslim neighborhood in the city of Tripoli clashed with those from a neighborhood inhabited by members of the Shi'ite Alawite sect. Mr. Assad's family is part of the sect.
Earlier Friday, security forces mounted new assaults in the country's restive northwest, sending tanks and troops into two more cities.
Rights activists and witnesses say the military sent large numbers of soldiers into Maaret al-Numaan, a city that is on the highway linking the capital and the large city of Aleppo. In addition, the security forces moved into the town of Khan Sheikhun.
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Meanwhile, Turkish officials say the number of Syrians who have crossed the border to flee from the unrest is nearing 10,000.
The al-Jazeera television network said Friday that some Syrians who have gathered near the Turkish border also demonstrated against President Assad.
In a separate development, U.S. actress and U.N. envoy Angelina Jolie has arrived in Turkey where she will visit refugees at the border.
World powers are increasingly condemning the crackdown. On Friday, French officials voiced support for additional European Union sanctions on President Assad's regime.
On Thursday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the Syrian president to “stop killing people” and negotiate with the protesters “before it's too late.”
Rights activists and witnesses say more than 1,300 civilians and 340 government troops have been killed since mid-March.
