At least 13 people were killed Saturday in Syria as government forces cracked down on pro-democracy protesters in the country, a rights group said, reported dpa.
Four were killed in the northern province of Idlib, near the border with Turkey, when security forces opened fire to disperse protesters who had gathered for the funeral procession of a child in the city of Maaret al-Naaman.
In the central restive province of Homs, three were killed in random shooting near security checkpoints. Two were also killed in the southern Daraa province near checkpoints.
Three men, detained by security three weeks ago, were killed after they were tortured in detention, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
One man died of injuries sustained by government forces attacks five days ago in the central area of Hawla.
Syria's opposition have warned of a "massacre" by government troops, as the death toll in the crackdown on protesters around the country climbed to 41 on Friday.
Most independent media and humanitarian groups are barred from entering Syria. Few people were allowed in Damascus after a government invitation, but are not allowed to move freely.
Since the uprising started against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, more than 4,000 people have been killed and over 14,000 have been arrested, according to UN estimates.