Syria: 'Biggest Protest So Far' As 19 Die

Massive Protests All Over Syria

Syrian forces have reportedly killed up to 19 people as what are thought to be some of the biggest anti-government protests so far have erupted around the country. 
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that crowds were largest in Idlib and Hama provinces, where 250,000 people hit the streets in both areas. Other massive rallies were held in Daraa province and the Damascus suburb of Douma.
Five people were shot dead in the city of Hama in the northwest and five others in the southern city of Deraa, according to activists.
"Five were martyred and at least 20 wounded when the Syrian security forces opened fire," said the Observatory's head Rami Abdul-Raham.
The group added a similar scenario had unfolded in Deraa, while more than 25 people were wounded when troops fired bullets and tear gas at protesters in the northwestern city of Idlib.
Troops have also reportedly clashed with tens of thousands of people in Douma, a suburb on the northern outskirts of the capital Damascus.
At least 24 people were hurt there when security forces fired "nail bombs to disperse tens of thousands of demonstrators", according to the SOHR.
It added that people "hurled stones" at the troops when they fired stun grenades and tear gas at the crowd.
According to the SOHR, more than 60,000 people had flooded Douma's streets and were heading to the town hall building when the confrontations broke out.
The new reports of violence come after pictures emerged of troops apparently deliberately targeting protesters, including children, with live ammunition.
There have been near-daily reports of dozens of deaths as unrest continues to sweep the country - despite the presence of Arab League monitors.
They are in Syria to determine whether the regime of President Bashar al Assad is abiding by an agreement to withdraw heavy weapons from the streets.
But there are fresh doubts about the credibility of the Arab mission, even though Russia's foreign ministry said an initial assessment by the observers was "reassuring".
The Local Co-ordination Committee - an umbrella group for the Syrian activist network - said it has documented the names of 130 people, including six children, who have died since the Arab monitors arrived on Monday.
Activists claim the security forces have launched attacks when the Arab observers were not present, to dissuade people from turning out to protest. Claims by the League's mission that they saw "nothing frightening" when in Homs - where over 1000 have died - cast doubts over their ability to act. 
The head of the breakaway Free Syrian Army, Colonel Riad al-Asaad, said that attacks on government targets would stop for the time being in order to allow the mission to do its work, but that the Syrian people have the right to fight back.
"We only defend ourselves now. This is our right and the right of every human being," he said from the FSA headquarters in Turkey.