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At least 27 killed in Syria protests: activists

Updated at: 1054 PST,  Friday, May 20, 2011  NICOSIA: Syrian security forces on Friday shot dead at least 27 people, including a child, during pro-democracy protests, activists said as state television blamed the violence on armed gangs. The child was among 11 people killed in the central city of Homs while another 10 died in the town of Maaret al-Naaman, located near the western city of Idlib, the activists said. They said security forces also killed two people in the southern region of Daraa, epicentre of protests that have gripped Syria since March 15, one in Daraya, a suburb of Damascus, another in the port city of Latakia and two in the eastern town of Deir Ezzor. The killings took place amid nationwide protests called by the opposition in defiance of a brutal crackdown by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad that has left more than 850 people dead, according to the United Nations and rights groups. State television said armed gangs had opened fire on gatherings and security forces in the region of Idlib and on the outskirts of Homs, resulting in unspecified casualties. (AFP)