The reports could not be confirmed by independent sources or hospitals in the area.

Pro-democracy protests spread across the country Friday from the southern city of Daraa to capital Damascus.

Hundreds of people marched from the Omayyed mosque in the center of Damascus' Old City along Souk al Hamadiyeh street, chanting "Daraa is Syria" and "We will sacrifice ourselves for Syria."

Supporters of Syrian president Bashar al Asad chanted back, "God, Syria and Bashar -- that's all."

At least five protesters were taken away by plainclothes officers.

Earlier Friday, mourners gathered for the funeral of two people killed during clashes with security forces in Daraa, an agricultural city south of Damascus where a security crackdown left up to 100 dead, according to estimates by human rights groups.

Journalists were asked to leave Daraa shortly before the funerals. Soldiers were seen deploying on the roads leading into the city, bringing sandbags with them.

Syrian activists have vowed to push on with rallies against "injustice and repression," dismissing reform pledges announced by the authorities.

Facebook group The Syria Revolution 2011, which has attracted almost 78,000 fans, called earlier Friday for "Day of Dignity" rallies at mosques across Syria.

Source: New York Post