Five dead in Syria 'Day of Defiance'

DAMASCUS: Syria's security forces shot dead at least five people Friday as thousands rallied on a "Day of Defiance" against the autocratic regime of President Bashar al-Assad after tanks converged on protest centres.

In Brussels the European Union on Friday agreed to impose sanctions on 13 Syrian officials involved in the regime's brutal crackdown on protests and will meet Monday to discuss whether to target Assad as well, diplomats said.

Security forces opened fire to disperse protests that broke out after weekly Muslim prayers in the central city of Homs, killing five people and wounding several others, some seriously, activist Najati Tayara said.

There were several protests in Homs but security forces fired on a crowd of demonstrators to disperse them when they reached Bab Dreib area in the centre of town, said Tayara as other activists confirmed the report.

Tanks entered the industrial city earlier and also rolled into other protest centres across Syria. (AFP)