Clashes between Syrian forces, defectors in Damascus suburb

Heavy clashes broke out between Syrian security forces and army defectors in the Damascus suburb of Douma on Friday, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets in Douma after Friday prayers. They hurled stones at the security forces. At least 24 people were wounded, the Observatory said.

Earlier in the day, the head of the Syrian opposition's armed rebels ordered a stop to all attacks on state security forces during a visit by Arab League monitors checking to see if Syria is implementing a deal to end its crackdown on the nine-month revolt against President Bashar al-Assad's rule.   

"I issued an order to stop all operations from the day the committee entered Syria last Friday. All operations against the regime are to be stopped except in a situation of self defence," Lieutenant Colonel Riad al-Asaad, head the Free Syrian Army, told Reuters by telephone on Friday.

Syrian security forces fanned out in cities and deployed snipers on rooftops Friday as the opposition called on protesters to march to main squares around the country, activists said.             

The huge rallies have been met by lethal gunfire from security forces, apparently worried about multiple mass sit-ins modeled after Cairo's Tahrir Square.            
The Local Coordination Committees, an activist coalition, said at least 130 people, including six children, have been killed in Syria since the Arab observers began their one-month mission on Tuesday. On Friday, security forces boosted their presence in flashpoint areas across the country, the LCC said.            

Still, the presence of outside monitors has invigorated frustrated protesters and motivated them to take to the streets again in large numbers after months of demonstrations met by bullets had dashed their hopes of peaceful change. 

Reuters / AP