Global leaders slate Syria after 90 killed in clashes

DAMASCUS, Apr 23 (agencies): World leaders strongly condemned Syria after its security forces killed more than 90 people during "Good Friday" protests in one of the bloodiest days of a month-long uprising. The deaths signalled no let-up from President Bashar al-Assad, whose forces used live ammunition and tear gas against demonstrators in several towns and cities nationwide. The bloodshed erupted as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in order to test long sought-after freedoms one day after Assad scrapped decades of draconian emergency rule. A human rights organization says at least 90 civilians had been killed by security forces during the biggest demonstrations so far against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. Another 80 people were injured in the clashes. Demonstrators also seek the release of political prisoners and the dismantling of the security services. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities across Syria on Friday to call for current president Bashar al-Assad to step down. Although he had just lifted the almost half century old emergency law, protesters were not appeased. They called for more reforms and greater freedoms in the west-Asian country. Syrian state television showed protests in several cities with news anchors stating the protests were "peaceful". But an unnamed fireman in the capital city of Damascus said the fire stations had been attacked by protesters. His fire engine appears to have been badly damaged. Meanwhile: At least five people were killed Saturday in Syrian funeral processions, including three shot dead by snipers as they marched to bury their dead in a local cemetery, witnesses said. Snipers opened fire from roof-tops as a funeral procession made its way to a cemetery, killing at least three mourners and wounding one, a witness and a human rights activist in the Damascus suburb of Douma told AFP by telephone.