At least five people have been killed after Syrian security forces conducted overnight raids, in an apparent crack down on dissent.

Activists said Saturday that forces moved into a Damascus suburb and opened fire on civilians. The Associated Press says a similar raid took place in the eastern town of al-Boukamal.

On Friday, rights groups and witnesses said security forces killed at least seven people during anti-government protests across the country.

They said many of the deaths occurred in the seaside town of Latakia. However, a state-run media report said “masked saboteurs” fired shots and threw dynamite at security forces and civilians in the town.

Overall, tens of thousands of protesters rallied for President Bashar al-Assad's departure on Friday in what has become a weekly ritual.