At least 44 killed in Syria protests

The main hospital in the southern Syrian city of Deraa has received the bodies of at least 37 protesters killed in a confrontation with security forces, a hospital official said yesterday.

Security forces opened fire on hundreds of youths at the northern entrance to Deraa on Wednesday, according to witnesses, after a week of protests in which at least 44 civilians have been killed since Friday.

About 20000 people marched yesterday in funerals for nine of those killed, chanting freedom slogans.

Residents said they feared the government of President Bashar al-Assad was intent on crushing the revolt.

Assad has dismissed rising demands for reform in Syria, a country of 20million people.