Syrian Forces Kill 50 People and 4 Soldiers Killed on Day of Rage

At least 50 protesters were killed in in pro-democracy demonstrations throughout Syria on Friday, including 15 in the south Syrian town of Daraa, according to opposition members.

Casualties have been reported throughout the country in Homs, Latakia and Rastan, in Syria's latest 'day of rage'.

Earlier Friday, a hospital source reported that Syrian security forces killed 15 villagers at the entrance to the south-Syrian city of Daraa on Friday, saying they received the bodies of the villagers that were riddled with bullets,AlshamTV reported.

Witnesses said that Bymid-afternoon, protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime were taking place in most major centres around the country,in a repeat of pro-democracy rallies that have become the norm after weekly Muslim prayers.

According to CNN, 16 were killed in the southern city of Daraa . Dozens were wounded. A resident of the nearby Tafa village said.

a group of residents marched toward the western entrance of the city, about 3 kilometers from the city center, and then security forces opened fire, killing 14 and wounding 38.

A second group of protesters who tried to slip through from Daraa's northern entrance were met with gunfire from a security checkpoint, resulting in two more deaths, said a witness and albawaba reported.

The official state news agency SANA said an "armed terrorist group" killed four soldiers and kidnapped two others in Daraa where Assad sent tanks and troops to crush resistance on Monday.

Witnesses said, it was a bloody day and Syrian forces fired at thousands on protesters heading for the south Syria city that has become the epicenter of the six-week long protests that are shaking the rule of authoritarian President Bashar Assad, wounding dozens.

Al Jazeera television aired footage from the village of Mahala near Daraa and from Banias and Homs. Protesters waved Syrian flags and banners saying: "No to the siege of Daraa," "A powerful country is the one whose people are free" and "We are preachers of freedom and peace, not saboteurs".

A witness in Latakia said about 1,000 people turned out for an anti-government rally when plainclothes security agents with automatic rifles opened fire. He said he saw at least five people wounded. Like many witnesses contacted by The Associated Press, he asked that his name not be used for fear of reprisal, haaretz reported.

The Muslim Brotherhood said "every Syrian citizen knows that the regime is perpetrating genocide on Syrian territory, which is targeting the desire for emancipation expressed by the revolt of young patriots aspiring to liberty and dignity."

"God created you free; do not let the tyrants keep you in slavery," added the statement received by AFP. "Cry with one voice for liberty and dignity."

Meanwhile ,Syrian state-run TV said the government had warned against holding any demonstrations Friday and placed large banners around the capital that read: "We urge the brother citizens to avoid going out of your homes on Friday for your own safety.

US Officials said that President Barack Obama signed an executive order on Friday imposing new sanctions against Syria's intelligence agency and two relatives of President Bashar al-Assad in response to a crackdown on protests.Assad was not among those targeted for the sanctions, which will include asset freezes and bans on U.S. business dealings, but he could be named later if violence by government forces against pro-democracy protesters continues, the officials added.Haaretz reported.