DAMASCUS – Protests spread in Syria on Friday from their southern epicentre of Daraa to Damascus and a town south of the capital, where authorities moved to arrest at least five demonstrators.

DAMASCUS/DERAA, Syria  – Protests spread across Syria Friday, challenging the rule of the Assad family after their forces killed dozens of demonstrators in the south.

BEIRUT (AFP) – Lebanon, which for nearly 30 years endured Syria's military and political hegemony, is closely eyeing developments in Damascus which will undoubtedly have ramifications on the local scene, analysts say.

DAMASCUS, Syria – Violence erupted around Syria on Friday as troops opened fire on protesters in several cities and pro- and anti-government crowds clashed on the tense streets of the capital in the most widespread unrest in years, witnesses said.