Now Syria – 8 June

 20:51 Syrian forces on Friday shelled  Al-Haffa in Latakia, the General Commission of the Syrian Revolution said.

 20:06 The EU executive on Friday announced a new 23-million-euro aid package to help meet the needs of the Syrian population and refugees reeling from the country’s 15-month-old civil unrest.

 19:56 Switzerland announced on Friday a toughening of sanctions against Syria, hitting the country’s finance, oil and precious metal sectors.

 19:11 Clashes broke out between the Syrian army and rebels in Al-Abaseen Square in Damascus, Al-Arabiya television quoted activists as saying.

 18:48 An anti-regime protest started in Al-Maydan neighborhood in Damascus. (S.N.N)
 18:20 Syrian forces on Friday raided the Qadam neighborhood in Damascus, killing three people, the General Commission of the Syrian Revolution said.

 18:15 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows an anti-regime protest in Ras al-Ain.

 18:15 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday in Aleppo’s Salah ad-Din  shows large numbers of anti-regime protesters chanting : “Long live Syria, and down with [Syrian President Bashar] al-Asaad.”

 18:10 Friday’s death toll in Syria has risen to 31 people, Al-Jazeera television quoted the Syrian Network for Human Rights as saying.

 18:00 An anti-regime protest started in Raal near Aleppo. (S.N.N)

 17:35 An anti-regime protest kicked off in Al-Ramel al-Janoubi neighborhood in Latakia. (S.N.N)

 17:16 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows an anti-regime protest in Deir ez-Zour’s Jubaila neighborhood.

 17:15 An anti-regime protest started in Al-Jude mosque in Latakia. (S.N.N)
 17:10 An anti-regime protest kicked off in the Damascus neighborhood of Daf al-Shawk. (S.N.N)

 17:08 Syrian forces on Friday killed 26 people, the General Commission of the Syrian Revolution said.

 17:01 Former UN chief Kofi Annan, the author of a fledgling peace plan on Syria, called Friday for “additional pressure” in the wake of a new massacre as he held talks in the United States.

 16:56 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows anti-regime protesters chanting for victory and waving pre-Baath Syrian flags in Hama’s New Aleppo Road.

 16:24 The International Committee of the Red Cross, whose relief workers are on the ground in Syria, on Friday described the situation as “extremely tense” in many parts of the country.

 16:16 United Nations observers on Friday reached the Syrian village of Al-Kubeir where dozens of residents were massacred two days ago, activists told AFP.

 16:12 Anti-regime protests took place in most of Edleb’s Jisr al-Shoughour villages. (S.N.N)

 16:12 Syrian security forces sent heavy reinforcements to Kfar Batna in the Damascus district. (S.N.N)

 16:11 Russia said Friday after high-stake talks with the US point man on Syria that it did not know if President Bashar al-Assad intended to leave power but made no formal call on him to go.

 16:10 Clashes broke out on Friday between the Syrian army and rebels in Qadam and Kfar Sousa in Damascus, Al-Arabiya television quoted the General Commission of the Syrian Revolution as saying.

 16:04 An anti-regime protest in support of “the devastated Syrian towns” kicked off in Hama’s Al-Jabiriya. (S.N.N)

 16:01 Syrian security forces heavily deployed in the Daraa town of Nemr and arrested several young men. (S.N.N)

 16:00 An anti-regime protest in support of the Free Syrian Army and calling for the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad kicked off  in the Damascus district of Hajirat al-Balad. (S.N.N)

 15:55 An anti-regime protest condemning the “massacres perpetrated by the Syrian regime” kicked off in the town of Damir in Damascus. (S.N.N)

 15:54 Syrian security forces clashed with members of the Free Syrian Army near Al-Salam mosque in Al-Qadam neighborhood in Damascus. (S.N.N)

 15:52 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows anti-regime protesters chanting and waving pre-Baath flags in the Homs neighborhood of Al-Waar.

 15:46 Most of the towns and villages in southern Edleb witnessed anti-regime protests on Friday. (S.N.N)

 15:44 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows anti-regime protesters chanting in support of the Free Syrian Army in the Damascus neighborhood of Yarmouk.

 15:37 An anti-regime protest kicked off at the Al-Beyrqdar mosque in the Latakia’s neighborhood of Al-Saliba. (S.N.N)

 15:34 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows a anti-regime protesters chanting and waving pre-Baath Syrian flags in Edleb’s Bench.
 15:33 UN observers arrived in Hama’s Maarzaf and Syrian security forces prevented residents from approaching their convoy. (S.N.N)

 15:30 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows an anti-regime protest in Syria’s Talkalakh.

 15:24 Two people were killed and more than 15 injured by Syrian security forces in the Damascus district of Aartouz. (S.N.N)
 15:23 Syrian security forces have heavily shelled Homs . (S.N.N)

 15:20 Syrian security forces raided homes in the western area of Al-Qadam neighborhood of Damascus . (S.N.N)

 15:19 More than 400 members of Syrian security forces raided Al-Muqaylaybeh in the Damascus district. (S.N.N)


 15:18 Syrian security forces’ tanks raided the town of Hayalin in the Hama district and opened fire on demonstrators. (S.N.N)

 15:08 An anti-regime protest in support of Homs, Hama and the Free Syrian Army kicked off in the Damascus neighborhood of Al-Dahadil. (S.N.N)
 15:05 Syrian security forces raided the town of Mahajja in Daraa and burned several houses. (S.N.N)

 15:02 An anti-regime demonstration kicked off in the Ali Bin Abi-Taleb and Omar Bin al-Khattab mosques in Aleppo’s Al-Safira. (S.N.N)

 15:00 An anti-regime demonstration kicked off in the Al-Oumari mosque in the Damascus district of Kanaker. (S.N.N)
 14:55 Syrian security forces disperse an anti-regime demonstration in Homs’ Al-Soukhna. (S.N.N)
 14:54 An anti-regime demonstration kicked off in the Al-Majed mosque in Damascus’ Al-Midan neighborhood. (S.N.N)

 14:54 An anti-regime protest began in the Aleppo neighborhood of Al-Sakhour amid security forces’ gunfire. (S.N.N)
 14:53 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows a protest in the town of Harasta. Protesters are chanting “Oh Arabs, you killed us.”

 14:52 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows the funeral procession of a man killed by Syrian security forces in Basra al-Sham.

 14:46 A massive anti-regime protest kicked off in the Damascus area of Al-Yarmouk outside the Al-Habib al-Mostafa Mosque. (S.N.N)

 14:43 A protest began in the Damascus town of Achrafiyat Sahnaya outside the Said Bin Amer al-Jamhi Mosque. (S.N.N)

 14:42 A protest began in the town of Qalaat al-Madiq near Hama. (S.N.N)

 14:40 More than 100 soldiers deployed in Khalid Bin al-Walid Street in Damascus. (S.N.N)
 14:38 Syrian security forces shelled the Daraa town of Kafr Shams. (S.N.N)

 14:37 A deadly blast rocked a Damascus suburb, killing two security forces members, among 10 people killed across Syria on Friday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

 14:34 Syrian security forces deployed military reinforcements to the town of Mokaylibeh near Damascus. (S.N.N)

 14:32 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows a protest in the Hasaka town of Darbasiyeh. Protesters are chanting for Syrian districts and towns.

 14:31 Syrian security forces waged an arrest campaign in the Damascus town of Hajar al-Aswad. (S.N.N)

 14:31 France backs UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan’s bid to bring key powers into a contact group on the Syria crisis, but it opposes bringing Iran into the group, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

 14:28 An anti-regime protest began in the Damascus neighborhood of Al-Mezzeh. (S.N.N)

 14:27 A protest began in the town of Sahl al-Ghab in the Hama district. (S.N.N)

 14:26 Syrian security forces opened fire on protesters in the Boustan al-Qasr neighborhood of Aleppo, Al-Jazeera quoted activists as saying on Friday.

 14:24 An anti-regime protest kicked off in the Aleppo town of Ahtimalat. (S.N.N)

 14:24 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows a protest in the Edleb town of Koreen.

 14:23 Syrian security forces are shelling the Latakia city of Al-Haffa. (S.N.N)

 14:23 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows security forces shelling a mosque in the Homs area of Al-Qousour.

 14:22 A massive anti-regime protest began in the Edleb city of Taftanaz. (S.N.N)

 14:21 A YouTube video purportedly filmed on Friday shows an anti-regime protest in Amouda.

 14:24 Al-Jazeera is broadcasting live footage of an anti-regime protest in Aleppo’s Salaheddine neighborhood.

 14:19 Several anti-regime protests kicked off in the Damascus towns of Kafr Soussa, Jawbar, Douma. (S.N.N)

 14:16 Security forces opened fire on a protest in the Deir az-Zour town of Al-Tayana. (S.N.N)

 14:14 A number of protests began in the Deir az-Zour areas of Al-Ommal, Al-Qousour, Al-Ardi, Al-Houweika, Al-Tayana. (S.N.N)

 14:12 A protest erupted in the Daraa town of Saida amid security forces’ gunfire. (S.N.N)

 14:11 Russia said Friday after talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Syria envoy that it was unaware of any plans by President Bashar al-Assad to leave power.

 14:02 Syrian security forces shelled the Al-Ghouta al-Sharqiyya area near Damascus, Al-Arabiya quotes activists as saying on Friday.

 13:59 Several protests against the regime began in the Latakia town of Jableh. (S.N.N)

 13:58 A series of anti-regime protests began in the Daraa town of Enkhel. (S.N.N)

 13:57 An anti-regime protest began in the town of Al-Qalamoun near Damascus. (S.N.N)

 13:56 An anti-regime protest kicked off in the Daraa town of Al-Kark al-Sharqi. (S.N.N)

 13:54 Germany said Friday it was “horrified” by the latest Syrian massacre and urged Russia to throw its support behind a tougher condemnation of Damascus by the United Nations Security Council.

 13:53 Several protests against the regime were held in the Edleb town of Sermeen. (S.N.N)

 13:52 A massive anti-regime protest erupted in the town of Harasta outside Damascus. (S.N.N)

 13:49 An anti-regime protest kicked off in the Latakia neighborhood of Al-Sejen. (S.N.N)
 13:48 Al-Jazeera is broadcasting live footage of an anti-regime demonstration in Hama’s Al-Hamidiyeh.
 13:47 Syrian security forces opened fire on demonstrators in the Aleppo neighborhood of Al-Aazamiyeh, Al-Arabiya quoted activists as saying on Friday.

 13:47 An anti-regime protest began in the Aleppo neighborhood of Al-Zahraa. (S.N.N)
 13:45 Syrian security forces are surrounding mosques in Damascus’ Nahr Aisha, Al-Arabiya quoted activists as saying on Friday.

 13:44 A protest against the regime started in the town of Meng near Aleppo despite heavy security forces’ deployment. (S.N.N)

 13:44 Syrian security forces killed one person in an attack on an anti-regime demonstration in Daraa al-Mahatta, Al-Arabiya quoted activists as saying on Friday.

 13:34 An anti-regime protest began in the Daraa town of Yadouda. (S.N.N)

 13:32 A protest began in the Aleppo town of Dabeq in support of Homs, Daraa and Aleppo. (S.N.N)

 13:31 An anti-regime protest kicked off on the Aleppo neighborhood of Salaheddine. (S.N.N)

 13:23 A protest kicked off in the Latakia town of Al-Saliba. (S.N.N)

 13:19 A protest erupted in the Homs area of Al-Midan amid the heavy deployment of security forces. (S.N.N)

 13:17 Syrian army troops surrounded Al-Hassan al-Basri Mosque in the Damascus area of Al-Qadam. (S.N.N)

 13:15 Explosions and gunfire were heard in the Hama town of Helfaya, Al-Jazeera quoted activists as saying.

 13:14 Syrian security forces heavily shelled the Latakia towns of Al-Haqa and Al-Jankil, Al-Jazeera quoted activists as saying on Friday.

 13:14 Syrian security forces opened fire on protesters in the Damascus areas of Al-Hajar al-Aswad and Al-Midan, Al-Jazeera quoted activists as saying.

 13:09 Al-Jazeera is broadcasting live images of anti-regime protests in Homs’ Al-Qusayr and Daraa al-Balad.

 13:07 The United Nations was increasingly worried about the unarmed observers it has sent into Syria to monitor the war between President Bashar al-Assad’s troops and opposition rebels.

 12:55 An anti-regime protest began in the Aleppo town of Kobani. (S.N.N)

 12:55 China on Friday condemned the latest civilian killings in Syria, but refused to back a call by UN/Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan to increase the pressure on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

 12:30 A car bomb exploded in Damascus’ Al-Thawra Street, killing two people and injuring 15 others, Al-Jadeed reported.

 12:23 The Red Cross said that a large number of Syrians are facing difficulties in receiving medical aid, Al-Jazeera reported.

 11:11 Regime troops battled on Friday to take back the rebel bastion of Khaldiyeh in Homs, bombarding the district with shells, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

 8:49 US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Syria pointman Fred Hof was to meet top Russian diplomats Friday in a bid to persuade Moscow to back strongman President Bashar al-Assad’s removal from power.

 7:58 UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan told the UN Security Council on Thursday that the Syria crisis will quickly “spiral out of control” unless substantial pressure is put on President Bashar al-Assad.

 7:56 Syrian woman blogger Razan Ghazzawi has been honored with this year’s Human Rights Defenders at Risk award by the Dublin-based Front Line Defenders foundation, the group announced on Friday.

 7:54 Heavy weapons, armor-piercing bullets and surveillance drones have been used against UN observers in Syria to hamper their efforts to monitor the worsening conflict, UN leader Ban Ki-moon told a Security Council meeting on Thursday.

 7:53 At least 41 people, including 23 civilians, were killed across Syria on Thursday, a watchdog said, a day after at least 55 were slaughtered in a new massacre near the central city of Hama.