Turning to other unrest in the Arab World now and violence has erupted around Syria, with government troops opening fire on protesters in several cities.

Pro- and anti-government protesters clashed on streets in the nation's capital Damascus in the most widespread unrest in years.

Tens of thousands of Syrians took to the streets across the country after Friday prayers, shouting calls for greater freedoms in support of more than week-long protests in the southern city of Daraa.

The security forces shot at demonstrators in Daraa after crowds set fire to a bronze statue of the country's late president, Hafez Assad.

The bodies of two protesters and many other injured people were brought to Daraa's main hospital. Witness say thousands of protesters seized weapons from a smaller number of troops and chased them out of the city.