Assad's forces kill 9 protestors in Syria

Syrian forces shot dead nine protesters on Friday as tens of thousands of people called on President Bashar to step down in some of the biggest demonstrations since Syria's uprising began in March.

The Local Coordination Committees, a group of grassroots activists, said three demonstrators were shot dead in the central city of Homs, three in the northern province of Idlib, two in Damascus suburbs and one in Latakia. (Reuters)