Fresh raids in Syria after deadly day of protests -

Fresh raids in Syria after deadly day of protests -  

CLIPPED FROM ARTICLE:

BEIRUT (AP) — Activists say Syrian security forces have conducted fresh raids after one of the deadliest days in months in the country's uprising.

According to the opposition's two main activist groups, about 40 people were killed on Friday as security forces opened fire on protesters and hunted them down in house-to-house raids.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says residents early Saturday reported heavy machine-gun fire in the central city of Homs and sweeping raids and arrests around the eastern city of Deir el-Zour.

The U.N. estimates the regime crackdown has killed 3,000 people since March, when the uprising against President Bashar Assad began.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian security forces opened fire Friday on protesters and hunted them down in house-to-house raids, killing about 30 people in the deadliest day in weeks in the country's 7-month-old uprising, activists said.

The popular revolt against Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime has proved remarkably resilient, with protests erupting every week despite the near-certainty the government will respond with bullets and tear gas. The U.N. estimates the regime crackdown on the protests has killed 3,000 people since March.

Much of the bloodshed Friday happened after the protests had ended and security forces armed with machine guns chased protesters and activists, according to opposition groups monitoring the demonstrations. Authorities disrupted telephone and Internet service, they said.

[ READ MORE AT LINK ]