At least four people were killed when Syrian security forces opened fire on a funeral gathering in the southern city of Daraa Wednesday afternoon, raising the day's death toll to 10.
"Several people were wounded and at least two bodies were still on the ground," a witness told the German Press Agency, dpa.
The funeral gathering took place near the al-Omari mosque for people killed in the violent crackdown on anti-government protesters which has continued for days.
Earlier, witnesses and activists said at least six people were killed after security forces opened fire on medical staff near al- Omari early on Wednesday.
The mosque has been turned into a field hospital and currently houses hundreds of injured protesters.
In a video posted on Facebook by activists, heavy machine gun fire could be heard in an area near the mosque in pre-dawn darkness.
A voice calling "How can you shoot at your brothers?" was heard in the footage.
Official sources told the state-owned news agency SANA that three people - a doctor, a paramedic and an ambulance driver - were killed by "an armed gang."
A security officer was also reported killed in the violence.
"Security forces will continue to pursue armed gangs that terrorize the civilians," according to SANA, which quoted an unnamed official.
Meanwhile, opposition sources in Beirut said fresh protests erupted in the northern city of Aleppo. Security forces used water canons and tear gas in attempt to disperse the crowds.
Activists using email, Facebook and Twitter are calling for massive nationwide demonstrations on Friday.
Six people were killed in Daraa earlier this week in clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters demanding an end to emergency law and greater freedoms.
In some cases, protesters have also called for an end to the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, who took over after the death of his father in 2000.
Syria has been ruled by the Ba'ath party since 1963. Political freedoms in the country are severely restricted.
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