BBC: The silence has been broken in Syria.A "day of rage" has now been held in several cities - Damascus, Homs, Banyas, and Deraa, south of Damascus.
In Syria, it is not the Facebook generation that is taking to the streets. It is people who are tired of poverty and repression.
The demonstrations in Deraa - where the police have reacted most brutally - started on Friday.
Several families had gathered to demand the release of 15 school children who - influenced by the protests in Tunisia and Egypt - wrote the popular revolution slogan on the wall: "The people want the fall of the regime".
Residents say the children's arrests in the tribal region deepened feelings of repression and helped fuel the protests in Deraa.
Security forces opened fire on the protesters on Friday, killing three people. A fourth died from his wounds on Saturday, rights groups say.
One YouTube video from Friday shows protesters chanting "Freedom, no fear after today".
In another, people are carrying the bloodied body of Amer al-Jawabra, one of those killed. Before long, gunshots are heard, and the men are forced to run for cover. 'Rise up' » | Lina Sinjab | BBC News | Saturday, March 19, 2011
Related »
