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.