Syrian forces deploy to stop protests, fire on worshippers — activists

Beirut\: Security forces deployed heavily outside mosques across Syria on Friday, firing on worshippers in some areas to prevent protests after the main weekly Muslim prayers, activists said.

"There is a heavy deployment of security forces outside mosques in the southern part of Banias," a Syrian Observatory for Human Rights spokesman said, referring to a Mediterranean coastal city.

"The security forces outnumber worshippers in some mosques," he added.

Troops in force

The spokesman said troops had also deployed in force in other cities and towns, and had opened fire on worshippers as they left a mosque in a neighbourhood of the flashpoint central city of Homs.

"They fired on worshippers as they left the Al Rawda mosque in Al Waer district," the Observatory said. "Bullets have hit the walls of the mosque."

It added that security forces in Latakia had also opened fire to disperse a demonstration and had deployed heavily throughout the city, also on the Mediterranean coast. A heavy military presence was also reported in Daraya and Douma, outside the capital.

The Syrian opposition has called for massive protests after Friday's main weekly prayers to denounce Russia's steadfast support of the Al Assad regime.

'Russia is killing our children'

"Russia is killing our children. Its planes, tanks and veto are also killing our children," said a banner on the Facebook page of The Syrian Revolution 2011.

Russia hit back on Friday, saying the opposition bore full responsibility for the persistent violence while accusing the West of pushing the regime's opponents into armed conflict.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told ITAR-Tass news agency the opposition's refusal to enter direct talks with the Syrian government meant it "bears full responsibility for improving the situation."

He accused the West of being "accomplices in the process of inflaming the crisis."

Moscow, a staunch ally of Al Assad along with China, has stood in the way of repeated attempts at the United Nations to adopt a resolution condemning the bloodshed in Syria.