the bbc's leana reports from damascus. >> through the streets on the outskirts of damascus. eye witnesses said snipers on roof tops fired on the crowd. >> it was especially difficult and there's a lot of secret service and clashes between secret service and people. also snipers on roofs, and the snipers were throwing stones on people. after that secret service on the ground and snipers from the roof opened the gun fire on people. >> in damascus it's felt the security forces locked the doors of the central mosque in an attempt to prevent protests. instead, the demonstration took place inside. chanting, we are all one. syrian people are all one. a pointed message to the president which has accused protesters of the country. they have called for a day of nationwide protest. that call was widely answered with demonstrations. the coastal cities, in the center of the country. and in the south. a common complaint, the limited nature of reforms announced by the president. expectations were raised by a speech on him on wednesday would see the end of draconian laws in place for almost

you're in the capital damascus. what's the situation there? >> damascus is quiet. there is a lot of security everywhere especially at the entrance of the capital. there's check points, and the main crisis are in the countryside of damascus around damascus. all these areas are still surrnded, check points,su entering and getting out with the i.d. duma is still... it is still t off. more than 200 people got arrested only in duma. hundreds got arrested around the country. the crisis in duma because they have been surrounded for days. >> brown: how are the protesrsi holdng up amid the crackdown by the government.o >> during the crackdown was continuing in several cities and killing people was continuing in dereh, and duma was under sge. people got to the streets to protest in several cities yesterday evening. today alsohe now tre is a protest inow other cities. so it seems clear that people are insisting to go on, to continue. they are not afraid anymore. this crackdown might now affect the cies which the armility and security are insidel the cities like duma. it's imp

damascus is outside pressure on damascus. >> this is one of the problems. for a long time, asked about the alternatives, people were paintings and areas that the situation would be worse and worse -- people were painting scenarios that the situation would be worse and worse. i have been working in syria for many years as an activist. among my colleagues, i am not going to necessarily be elected, but i am a voice. [unintelligible] you know, considering his background. it is really -- they seem to identify as a christian syrian -- me as a christian syrian. it is really ridiculous to have to defend ourselves at this stage. what is more ridiculous is that about thee ask me, protests. civil society has been decimated. the only place we can breathe freely, relatively, it is the mosque. all imams are appointed by the state and they have to sort of total line of the state. those who do not our immediate a removed or go through the security hell that -- are immediately removed or go through a security hell. we -- it seems there is a kind of craziness going around th

it was only a few weeks ago when he spoke to parliament in damascus. while politicians were clapping, outside more and more demonstrators were marching. [clapping and chanting] >> president assad was elected in a landslide. he was the only candidate. he maintains power through an elaborate allianan that included various secret services, the armed forces, a powerful family clan, the baath political party, and a vast network of informants. his pilot -- his father was an air force general. he gave up power in 1970. -- he sees to -- he took power in 1970 and ruled for 30 years. his son took over in 2000 when his father died. there was hope for reforms but they never materialized. the state that he inherited from his father stayed in place. measures included severe restrictions on the press and the right to assembly. demonstrators could be arrested without charge. there was no appeal of state security court verdict. after the demonstrations showed no signs of abating, their regime was forced to make concessions. the independent -- the information minister a

she is wearing traditional garb from damascus. i do not know if you can tell but there is a lot of handstitched detail at the top. lena is wearing a traditional jordanian start out with handstitched work. these stars represent different countries. this dress is more of a jordanian style. this is a palestinian dress with hand importers from the top to bottom. -- embroidery from the top to bottom. this is all handstitched. could the other models join the girls on the floor?

now the white house is considering introducing new legislation new sanctions against the regime in damascus as a form of punishment for this violent crackdown the hope is that european countries will follow suit in addition to this in another example of the increased diplomatic activity and the call for sanctions against syria we are seeing in the u.n. security council debate over a draft statement that calls for restraint and also contains the violence and it does see the stage for the eventual imposition of sanctions against the country it's thirty backs of course by the un secretary-general ban ki moon for an investigation into the killings against this backdrop there is more concern being expressed by experts in the international community that not only the increased diplomatic it typically against the country but also the possibility of a future intervention and that this will spark a reaction from arab states in washington and brussels there are a lot of concerns about the fact that syria are like libya is part of an alliance and there is very wide it begins in iran some elements in i

government in syria damascus to launch any any kind of military provocations and israel so. to have a muslim brotherhood as a new regime combined with a similar thing in egypt padds an element which i think some people in washington are mad enough to want to play with an element of destabilization that will sweep from morocco all the way to afghanistan and pakistan and throughout the islamic world in order to create is complete evil in the region number one to control the oil resources that flow both to try and also western europe germany italy and other countries and number two to. take one of the wealthiest regions in the world the center of much of the known world wealth and bring that ultimately under the hands of privatized western companies mainly british and american oil multinational companies and goals and stick training made it clear that no one in a speech in london in one thousand nine if we are seeing caps this. by the u.s. many would say well at the moment doesn't see working a lot of international support and when you bear in mind what's going on in libya and

do you think gradually switching its attention from damascus to. know you know i mean i know that the u.s. has said that iran is involved in helping the syrians and so on but you know i think that this is very much fundamentally still an internal syrian matter we're going to see whether the numbers of people that have come out on the streets will continue to come out whether more will come out. is not his father this is not nine hundred eighty two i think that at some point he is going to have to make some concessions to get these protests to stop or he's going to have to step down and i don't think the iranians frankly with all the problems they have in their own country are going to be able to salvage this regime my sense is that if i know the iranians and i think i do they are already reaching out to other players in syria most likely some of the a sonic groups others because for them it's important to have a relationship with a country which is on the confrontation line with israel. how the dealing with all the. decisions that are likely to com

. >> serious send in more troops, and there is international pressure against damascus. the worst nuclear disaster ever. the world remembers chernobyl 25 years later. enflames sweep through a nature reserve on the german-belgium border. -- and flames sweep through. syria is not letting up on its move against anti-government protesters. tanks are reportedly rolling into more cities in what appears to be a widening of the crackdown, which began on monday. activists say 23 people have been killed by security forces in one city alone in the last 24 hours. world powers are criticizing damascus, urging the president to reverse course, but assad is not listening. >> the regime had a message for the protesters in the streets of dura. rights groups say people were killed when they crushed the protests. the syrian government of version of the events is a different one. it says the demonstrators are armed groups. state tv show the funerals of 50 military and security officers, including statements from relatives, calling them martyrs, who died trying to protect residents in the cit

they were drew the ambassador and tried to isolate damascus. even people in that administration will acknowledge. nonetheless, the solution was not to go 1880 and reach out and try to engage that regime. the reason that they had tried to engage the regime were two main reasons. the first reason is because the peace process is central to the obama administration's middle east strategy. in fact, that is the obama administration's middle east strategy. the point is not just to -- where most administrations policy makers understand the peace process as a way to get all the other arab states on board, on a way to bring on the other states, the obama administration understands this is the way to go over the heads of arab rulers and win more the affection of arab and muslim people, that this is the purpose of the cairo speech the purpose of the cairo speech was to avoid -- not to avoid, but around the way u.s. policy makers work, which is to do business with arab states. of course, this is how diplomacy works. states do business with other states. wha

here the base of the ruling an outrageous in plain clothes fired on demonstrators and in the capital damascus police used tear gas to disperse a crowd of protesters the opposition promised president assad the biggest rally yet following a series of killings of demonstrators a bloody crackdown called international condemnation meantime the u.s. is pointing at the radio interference on the side of the government all these are in english the looks of all those accusations could mean for. some like it hot but this spring things have heated up perhaps too much in the arab world egypt tunisia libya now syria northern african region and the middle east and often brutal civil wars with the western powers playing an important hand some believe this won't stop anytime soon so who's next in line for the great upheaval in the region the answer may lie on the surface. president assad is disingenuously blaming outsiders while at the same time seeking a rainy and assistance in repressing syria's citizens this need to be a few things here and it's clear exactly the united states is looking to get involved i

witnesses say troops and tanks have fanned out in damascus, re-enforcements have moved into dara, the center of the protests. these unverified images show armed men, apparently soldiers. syria remains closed off to most journalists. one syrian cameraman fled to neighboring jordan. the videos on his laptop show protesters tearing down images of the syrian president, and police beating demonstrators. via skype, we spoke to an human rights activist in syria. she describes desperation in dara, under siege. >> you can hear shooting, voices calling for help. no food, no water. they have targeted the water tanks. many dead bodies in the street, and the people cannot get them from the street because the shooting. >> reporter: and in syria, past crackdowns still cast a long shadow. in 1982, bashar's father violently put down a revolt by muslim activists in the city of hama. an estimated 10,000 to 40,000 people were killed. that crackdown by the syrian president's father was one of the deadliest acts of repression in the history of the modern arab world. there are fears now of a similar atrocit

enormous proximity to tel aviv but damascus crippled by crisis iran may lose its footing in the region this is again a continuation of the idea that you use the international machinery to achieve your national objectives under the pretext that you are actually trying to protect human rights should the u.s. and its allies decide to go through with a habit of meddling in aiding revolutionary forces in the region the result may be catastrophic that if there is foreign intervention in syria yes iran's intervention in response that is a definite and very real possibility just as much as it interfered in iraq when the u.s. invaded that country and if suspicions proved true the world may be in for an entirely different ballgame if iran in the u.s. get involved in a real hunt confrontation it involves quietly. e.u. officials are meeting later in brussels to discuss sanctions against the syrian regime russia has warned against any foreign intervention saying there is no grounds for that middle east expert. on my pile says of western powers do step in he feels the whole region could be up in fla

there are reports the government troops stormed the damascus suburb overnight killing at least 1 more people. on saturday, at least 12 mourners attending a funeral in a damascus suburb were killed and on friday at least 100 people were killed by syrian security forces. it was the bloodiest day since the anti-government protests began some five weeks ago. >>> there's been a massive prison break in afghanistan. carried out by the taliban. more than 450 prisoners escaped from the main prison in kansas har. the taliban dug a tunnel into the jail. the tub was over 1,000 feet long and took over five months to rain, in the same areas, could lead to flooding. officials in missouri credit the tornado warning system with saving lives when a powerful twister hit on friday. up to 100 homes were destroyed in the st. louis area, and 2700 buildings were destroyed. but no one was killed, and there were no serious injuries. the storm packed winds up to 200 miles per hour. residents are still in disbelief. >> it really hasn't set in yet. i think the adrenaline has just been going. i think it's going to

assets iran's revolutionary guard also said to be penalized for allegedly giving material support to damascus for more on this we go live to caring for. retired u.s. air force lieutenant colonel to talk about the u.s. policy in the region thank you for joining us so as far back as two thousand and seven you were writing that the u.s. was getting ready to instigate an attack on iran and now washington is accusing to iran of supporting damascus in this bloody crackdown do you think the us preparing for another operation in the region well i'm not sure we're pretty tied down with the three operations that we have already but certainly keeping on we seem to change types of approaches in clay certainly with regard to syria and iran has been a long term united states or at least washington d.c. policy. the u.s. is still in iraq and afghanistan is also at the forefront of the campaign in libya do you think it could manage or afford another offensive in the region well we can't afford the three that we have so in some ways in the old sensibility of what you can pay for doesn't really apply to the uni

in courts in numerous books and to tel aviv damascus crippled by crisis iran neal lose its footing in the region this is again a continuation of the idea that you use the international machinery to achieve your national objectives under the pretext that you are actually trying to protect human rights should the u.s. and its allies decide to go through with a habit of meddling in aiding revolutionary forces in the region the result may be catastrophic that if there is foreign intervention in syria yes iran's intervention in response that is a definite and very real possibility just as much as it interfered in iraq when the u.s. invaded that country and if this is proved true the world may be in for an entirely different ball game if iran in the u.s. get involved in the real hot confrontation. e.u. officials meeting in brussels to discuss sanctions against the syrian regime the three largest countries germany france and the u.k. are all pushing for tougher measures despite yesterday's decision by the u.n. security council to stay away from the conflict but as you told us it's too late t

enormous proximity to tel aviv damascus crippled by crisis iran neal lose its footing in the region this is again a continuation of the idea that you use the international machinery to achieve your national objectives under the pretext that you are actually trying to protect human rights should the u.s. and its allies decide to go through with the habit of meddling in aiding. the result may be catastrophic if there is foreign intervention in syria yes iran's intervention in response that is a definite and very real possibility just as much as it interfered in iraq when the us invaded that country and it's the species proved through the world may be in for an entirely different ballgame if you're running the u.s. get involved in the real hunt confrontation it involves quite a. yemen is another arab state where a nationwide uprising refuses to go away you killings have led to demands for president saleh is a media resignation despite a deal with the opposition to step down within a month in an interview with r.t. the leader says the dangers of rushing into change are in his opinion greater

in syria we are watching a situation, the outskirts of damascus there. we are seeing reports of at least four people killed in clashes with antiassad and proassad forces. we are seeing that assad has been able to maintain control. there are tens of thousands of people taking to the streets of damascus. the fact that there are flashes and they led to death are significant. we spoke to one leader of the muslim brotherhood. he's saying that people have got even a taste of freedom and they are willing to die for it. in amman we didn't see any deadly clashes, people here are on edge and ready and prepared to fight for their rights. they want a change in the constitution and want to elect their government democratically. jon: fascinating to see those demonstrations in a country like syria where people have been repressed for so long. thank you. jenna: for more on the uprising in the middle east and what it means for the united states we are joined by former states department spokesman p. stkwr-fplt crowley. one of the most remarkable parts of this story is the

damascus is outside pressure on damascus. >> this is one of the problems. for a long time, asked about the alternatives, people were paintings and areashat the situation would be worse and worse -- people were painting scenarios that the situation would be worse and worse. i have been working in syria for many years as an activist. among my colleagues, i am not going to necessarily be elected, but i am a voice. [unintelligible] you know, considering his background. it is really -- they seem to identify as a christian syrian -- me as a christian sian. it is really ridiculous to have toefend ourselves at this stage. what is more ridiculous is that about thee ask me, protests. civil ciety has been decimated. the only place we can breathe freely, relatively, is the mosque. all ima are appointed by the state and they have to sort of total line of the state. those who do not our immediate a removed or go through the security hell that -- are immediately removed or go through a security hell. we -- it seems there is a kind of craziness going aroun that, if you are

damascus is outside pressure on damascus. >> this is one of the problems. for a long time, asked about the alternatives, people were paintings and areas that the situation would be worse and worse -- people were painting scenarios that the situation would be worse and worse. i have been working in syria for many years as an activist. among my colleagues, i am not going to necessarily be elected, but i am a voice. [unintelligible] you know, considering his background. it is really -- they seem to identify as a christian syrian -- me as a christian syrian. it is really ridiculous to have to defend ourselves at this stage. what is more ridiculous is that about thee ask me, protests. civil society has been decimated. the only place we can breathe freely, relatively, it is the mosque. all imams are appointed by the state and they have to sort of total line of the state. those who do not our immediate a removed or go through the security hell that -- are immediately removed or go through a security hell. we -- it seems there is a kind of craziness going around th

fr damascus, w ha the latest. >> mor violenc, secity foes klingnti-vernment protters. the cityas been a focusf unrest foreeks a security crackdo lefmany de. the govnment denied it was theiforces the fired day these picres from rian television shothe alleged gang firing. many resints o spoke tsay itas t security forces that shott them. [inaible] they have been calling for the same thing. freedom. demonstrators tned angry, these pictur are belved -- nintelligible] the president hasn't en see much sce thenti-government protesters started. when he did make appranc parlment, he disapinte he plic by offering close nothing. he has made some conssions nse,ut they d't seem to be addrsingheir demands. the stres arfilled with anrnd hamas is being followed by hongrrests and vience. >> today inemenat least three people we killedouth ofhe cital. te of thousandsf p and anti-government otesrs. they are in a standoff about whether the presiden shod be forced to step down. today, theejected an ex plan propose by the stas. in the libn ci of benghazi, rebels kled an accidentalato air stri

are discussinoptis regaing iosin sanction damascus. what kind of consensusr reaction would that gefrom countries athe u.? >> well, ihinkt the moment those would be niona ste, not steps at the united natis. it iwould be difficult to get reemt on sanctions against sya orny other sts for that matter. theris aeady a great dl reltance even to suppo a statent condemning the vience in syria. cha and russia traditional don't like the u.nto interfere in what eyee a internal affai butheir especially ctioubecause they're unhay wi what's happening inibya they didn't ock theilitary interventionhere but they wer't hpy about it to begin wit and now theyay tt nato is erstping their mandates. they'lbe lly cautious causof that when it comes disssing syria. also ather councilembe we understand is quite relucta toack syria because syria has a big influence on leban. it's not goingo beasy getting a statent reaction to the violence. and sancons uld be much more difficult >> hundreds ofeoplare trying to fleeisrata. thbrith government has warned sugglin libya

the tension and syria has never been as high, 10,000 people protested in damascus on friday. this was the biggest march yet against the regime of president assad. >> this footage shows fierce fighting for control of a village. there has been limited information since the my moved in. there are reports of a mounting death toll. the government says that demonstrators are responsible for the burned out houses seen here on syrian state television. these people in an eastern city blamed president assad for the violence. throughout the country, tens of thousands took to the streets in defiance of a ban. the human-rights council has condemned the violent crackdown and launched the investigation into the killings. it stopped shorof calling for international intervention. >> to syria has a responsibility to protect its population from crimes against humanity and other international crimes. in this context, i would like to say that any attacks against the civilian population can be held criminally accountable. >> the president shows no sign of backing down. thousands flooded the street

opposition groups since 2005 when then president george bush effectively froze political ties with damascus. the information comes from diplomatic cables provided by ikileaks. the group has funneled money to a channel which has ramped up coverage of recent protests. just this weekend, there were more demonstrations against assad. witnesses say security forces opened fire on protesters at a funeral killing two. >>> and now here's a look at other stories making news early today in america. a homeless man is under arrest for starting a massive fire in the lone star state's capital. residents raced to hose their homes and evacuate as a thick blanket of smoke covered the area. the fire scorched 30 or 40 acres as well as damaging several homes. it's currently contained but firefighters are still battling to put that blaise out. >>> an emergency landing in new orleans led to one unusual fender bender. engine problems forced a pilot to put his plane down on a grassy median. after touching down, the wing clipped a passing minivan with three adults and two children inside. thankfully no serious injur

. >> today athe border crossing closest to damascus, theas a steady stream traffomin out ofhe country. the people did nolook as thou they were fleei. those whwereilling topeak at only second-hd infortion. th man told us that the people are rising up. they are repressed, heaid. there a lotof problems in deraa. this dver said ty had sen nothg onhe road from the capital. there seem to be, as you mht expe, a lot of fear. everus that wmanage to sp on the way out of sia i refung tlet us on board. our pducehad st bn on board and ask if ere's anyone willing to taland ople are remaing silent. ere a lot of fear. >> this uld plain why the tanks a believed to be in e town of deraa, the cente of e uprising. people in the town are und curfew this cannobe vified. the united nions security council is still divided over whato sa about t cradown. e eupeanunion had statemt condemnin the violence russia,ndia, and china stoppe ort that. thsyri authorities say the crackdown is againstxtrests that have been thrteni civilis. it is clear that they want to ring an end to the protest tomorrow demonstrato plan d

in the early hurs othe morning, around 30 nks re beinmoveon the roaarou damascus toward e ceer o the uprisi. for the relivesf those trappedthes a dpera days. eds she is from the tow she now lives in jordan. she td us that her bther called h frhere today. saithat the snipers a killing peop. they do not know abo the other brother or theirathe others later folwed, a small otesalong the border. e photos, tey sai werof thoseille and injured by syan forces. none of this can indepeentl veried. the personal accous, manof em recounted by relatives of hose inside the town, have been markably consistent. they suggest, if anhing, bu the syrian authorities are rampingp thr responsto t rotesters, and so faat least, they do not appear to be at all bothered by the chorus o condemnation from weste capitals. and that mbinion has been growing. the.s. ambassadorohe u.n. saidhe violence wut for nt. >> the uted ates is urrely considering a rangef poli optns, including targeted sanctions,o reond to t crackdown and make car this bavior is unacptab. >> tside the syrianmbas in jord, anslamic group hld a prote

have used teargas and batons to break up anti-government protests in the best guess -- protests in damascus. the protests seem to be spreading. >> the media are being kept away but for many parts of syria, and there is video of demonstrations demanding freedom and an end to the regime. this is said to be what happened after friday prayers. trouble was reported in the south. they are defiant after the disturbances erupted there. this is the kind of behavior that has made many syrians so angry. this footage seems to have been taken by many of the armed security wing or militias. it shows its members taking pleasure in taking, beating, a humiliating a downed detainee. most other local men had been rounded up after an army ambush on a nearby highway that killed at least nine syrian army soldiers. within 30 troops and police are reported to have been shot dead in different parts of the country in the past week or so. one was killed by a sniper. the funerals have been shown repeatedly on serious state television saying that they have been killed by armed gangs acting on behalf of a foreign conspi

actists say there had been no protestsn th outskirts of the capil, damascus. -- there he ben new otes. the is no indatiothat the syri govnmen for the protesters are prepared to give ground. the ome ands key mdle eastern country are nogood bbc news. >> for more on the will soal med is playing, i ajoin by the sta deptment correspondent his return fr lebanon, covering, trying to get into syria. one of the problems i that jourlists are notllowed in. anthat ishy socialedia has ch aimportant role. the eyes o theround. >> exactly. i waspeaking to activists, one ethnic it's 11 nth -- on sed in lebanon. are gettingyewiesses' we can talko inrying to ma surehat the prosters keep the momentum going they are helping spread the word arnd the country, said the protesters know theyre n alone, th they are also demonstratinand na was happening ithe kurdish rion, forxamp -- and in know wha is happing the kurdish region, for example >> ans a grass roots level oanizion. ey are not deciding when an where to he the ministration. what is hpening is a grasoots movement. a little bitikegypt. is hpeni through n

. >> in damascus itsf, secity rces lockethe oors of the central mosque i an attpt to prent protests. instea theemonration took ple inde. protestors are cntinwe a all one. the ople are all o. that is a message to the president, which ha aused protestors of dividin the couny. actists had called for frida to be a df martyrs. thatall s welynswed wi demonstrations in the nortrn citieshecoasl cies, in e centef the couny and a city in the soh. comm cplaint, the limited naturef reforms announced by president aassa a spch by him on wednday would see the end of dray nian emergencyaws. but those hopesere dashed. those lawwill stay for the moment at least. the psident can sti dw huge crowds to support h. but otes songsike this one accusing the rime of killing its own pele areike the monsations themselves, opping up more and more. proving perhaps that suressionlone has so far doneittlto dampenthe calls foreform. bc news,"amascus. stays in e middle east and yemen, hdredofhousands ok to the streets aft fridayraye in the capital. ti-government protestors gathered near the university, ile oseacking t

if you look at the damascus declaration, you get an idea of what we're talking about here. many -- there's a similar structure almost emerging, but where people are not joining as representative of their parties, but as independents. we are trying to fuel an alternative not only to the regime, but also to the old traditional parties. this is not a communist party thing. this is not a basque party thing. this is the movement of independence, hoping that, to lead a transitional process to lead to formation of political parties that will lead to free elections and then, once these elections happen, we will find out the true nature of the political system. they are all arabs and kurds, christians, and jews. most of the people that died in a protest movement were below the age of 30. we're talking about very young population with a very young movement. now we're talking about a very young coalition. it is called the syrian national initiative for change. most of the leaders inside the country we are not revealing. there are new people emerging that have been elected at the local

an uprising and syria during a demonstration in damascus. at least three reported killed, while hundreds fled during the so-called day of protests. today's violence brings the death toll to more than 60 since the protests began a few weeks ago. in yemen, hundreds of thousands that the square in the capitol and marched throughout the city demanding president saleh step down. the demonstrations are thought to be the largest in more than a month of protests. many mosques and in the capitol were shut down. >> and news from other parts of the world and said not -- and is from other parts of the world now. an intensive search resumes in japan. united states is helping with the operation, the largest deployment of japan's forces since the second world war. ireland's credit worthiness has been downgraded by standard and poor's. an investigation revealed that the country would need another bailout. it did say a further downgrade of irish credit was unlikely. not to the american economy where president obama said there were signs of real strength afte

the republican guard patrolled the streets, closing roads across damascus, but still, protests erupted after friday prayers across a number of suburbs. there were demonstrations, too, in the central cities of homs and hama; banias on the mediterranean coast, as well as latakia; and al qamishly in the country's far east. not only declaring their opposition to the assad regime, but also their solidarity with their countrymen in the besieged city of deraa. despite the government's brutal crackdown, no sign anywhere that the syrian people have lost their appetite for change. >> sreenivasan: in washington, the obama administration announced new sanctions on syria. they include financial penalties against the syrian intelligence agency and three top officials of president assad's government. in yemen, hundreds of thousands of protesters filled a five-mile section of the main boulevard in sanaa. they again demanded that president ali abdullah saleh leave office immediately. elsewhere, police opened fire on protesters in a western port city. witnesses said five people were wounded. a new penta

. >> heavy gunfire and in syria today after a demonstration in damascus. at least three people reported killed by security forces, while hundreds fled during a day of massive protests. today's violence brings the death toll to more than 60 since the protests began two weeks ago. and in yemen, hundreds of thousands of people packed the square in the capitol and marched throughout the country, demanding president saleh stepped down. it is but to beat the largest -- is thought to be the largest demonstration in a month. it forced many mosques to shut down. struggling to cope with thousands -- silvio berlusconi has a proposal to issue visas. there's an issue having to help italy with the massive influx of migrants. an intensive search has begun in north eastern japan for the millions of people missing after the tsunami that struck three weeks ago today. the united states is helping in the largest deployment of japan for help defense forces as the second world war. standard and poor's rating agency has downgraded ireland after stress tests revealed that the cou

an uprising and syria during a demonstration in damascus. at least three reported killed, while hundreds fled during the so-called day of protests. today's violence brings the death toll to more than 60 since the protests began a few weeks ago. in yemen, hundreds of thousands that the square in the capitol and marched throughout the city demanding president saleh step down. the demonstrations are thought to be the largest in more than a month of protests. many mosques and in the capitol were shut down. >> and news from other parts of the world and said not -- and is from other parts of the world now. an intensive search resumes in japan. united states is helping with the operation, the largest deployment of japan's forces since the second world war. ireland's credit worthiness has been downgraded by standard and poor's. an investigation revealed that the country would need another bailout. it did say a further downgrade of irish credit was unlikely. not to the american economy where president obama said there were signs of real strength afte

. >> brown: witnesses in syria claimed up to 100,000 people marched on damascus today in the boldest move of the month-old protests. cell phone video on web sites showed chanting, banner-waving crowds demanding an end to the regime of bashar al-assad. the huge turnout came just outside the syrian capital. protesters said police fired tear gas and used riot batons, but did not repeat last week's shootings that killed 37 people. to the south, at least 20,000 marched in deraa, a center of the upheaval. earlier this week, they'd attacked a statue of the late president hafez al-assad, father of the current president. meanwhile, in yemen, on the southern edge of the arabian peninsula, the 32-year regime of ali abdullah saleh was still teetering after months of violent protest in the arab world's poorest nation. the embattled president addressed a large, pro- government rally today and appealed to the opposition. >> ( translated ): we ask the joint meeting party to follow their conscience and proceed with dialogue so that we can agree on a conclusion, for the sake of the security and the st

protesters marched in the capitol, damascus, and at least ten other cities, including daraa, banias, hamah, and homs, despite winning a concession from the government. this week, the cabinet, on orders from president assad, agreed to lift the nearly 50- year-old state of emergency in a bid to defuse the unrest. it had been one of the protesters' main demands, but turned out to be not enough to prevent further marches. in preparation for today's rallies, security forces and plain-clothed secret police officers were said to have been deployed in homs and other cities. earlier this week, secretary of state hillary clinton condemned syria's harsh tactics against peaceful protests. >> it must stop the arbitrary arrests, detentions and torture of prisoners, and it must cease the violence and begin a serious political process, through concrete actions, to demonstrate its responsiveness to the legitimate issues that have been raised by the syrian people seeking substantial and lasting reform. >> woodruff: syria has long been one of the most repressive countries in the middle east, and though