Syria: 'Opposition figures held' after protests

Syrian security forces have mounted a major operation to round up opposition figures after protests on Friday, activists said yesterday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights named 21 people it claimed were being held in the southern city of Deraa, and Homs, north of the capital Damascus.

The group said in a statement: "It is presumed their arrests are a result of the last protest."

Thousands of people joined pro-democracy demonstrations in major cities after Friday prayers, some chanting "the blood of martyrs is not cheap".

Police used tear gas and live ammunition on crowds, with at least seven being killed.

The wave of protests has proved the most serious challenge yet to the nearly five-decade rule of the Arab Socialist Baath Party, one of the most rigid regimes in the Middle East.

In the city of Douma, near Damascus, security forces were taking strict measures and checking the identity cards of people trying to enter or leave, a resident said.

At least five people were said to have been killed by security forces in Douma on Friday.

"Some shops are open but there is tension. Many people are staying at home," the resident, who wished to remain anonymous, added.

"There are a lot of security patrols. I have never seen Douma like that."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern about the violence and called on Syria's government to address the "legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people".

The government blamed Friday's bloodshed on armed gangs.

However, the state-run news agency acknowledged for the first time that Syria was seeing gatherings of people calling for reform.