At least one protester was reportedly shot dead and scores of other demonstrators were said to have been injured as Syrian security forces moved to quell a third day of rallies in the city of Daraa.
Thousands of people reportedly were in the streets protesting again on March 20, just two days after four demonstrators were shot dead in Daraa.
Protesters in the latest gathering were calling for the release of political prisoners and demanding greater rights.
Witnesses and activists, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity, identified the protester killed on March 20 as Raed al-Kerad. They said security forces had fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition at the crowd.
It was not immediately possible to independently confirm that information.
Witnesses said the latest violence started after a delegation representing President Bashar Assad arrived in Daraa, south of Damascus, to offer their condolences for the four deaths on March 18.
compiled from agency reports