Syrian Troops Kill Seven Protesters After Holiday Prayers

Syrian security forces killed at least seven people when they opened fire on protesters who rallied after leaving mosques following prayers on the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, an activist said.

The deaths today raised to two dozen the number of people killed in the past 24 hours, said Mahmoud Merhi, head of the Arab Organization for Human Rights in Damascus. The deaths today were in Daraa, where unrest in Syria began in mid-March, he said. Mosques have been rallying points for protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.