Syrian activists have called for mass protests on Friday to denounce what they say is Arab silence over the draconian crackdown by the government of President Bashar al-Assad on pro-democracy demonstrations, dpa reported.
The online activists have dubbed the protests "Your Silence Kills Us", which will be the latest in a series of demonstrations against the 11-year-old rule of al-Assad.
Scores of Syrians protested Wednesday outside the Arab League in central Cairo, demanding the pan-Arab organization adopt a clear position on the unrest in their country.
"We condemn Arab silence at what is taking place in Syria," the protesters said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Syrian security forces and troops were continuing to beef up their presence in the western city of Latakia, according to the opposition group the Local Coordination Committees of Syria.
It added that strong explosions rang out in the city. The claim could not be independently confirmed.
More than 1,400 people have been killed since anti-government protests began in Syria in mid-March, local human rights advocates say.
These reports are hard to verify as the Syrian authorities have barred most foreign media and international human rights groups from the country.