24 June 2011 Last updated at 09:38 ET

by Biodun Iginla and Nasra Ismail, BBC News

Mobile phone picture of anti-regime protest in Damascus, taken on 14 June 2011

Protests against the Syrian regime have been spreading since March

Syria Crisis

Protesters have taken to the streets across Syria after Friday prayers, in new rallies against President Bashar al-Assad, activists and witnesses say.

Security forces were said to have used tear gas and gunfire in and around the capital, Damascus, with unconfirmed reports of casualties.

Meanwhile, the EU has expanded sanctions against the Assad government.

It added three members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and four Syrians to a list of more than 30 people targeted.

The EU's official journal said the three Revolutionary Guard members now subject to sanctions had been "providing equipment and support to help the Syrian regime suppress protests in Syria".

The EU also drafted a declaration condemning the "unacceptable and shocking violence the Syrian regime continues to apply on its own citizens".

EU leaders are expected to endorse the declaration later.

More than 1,300 people have been killed and thousands more detained since a crackdown on anti-government protests began in March, activists say.

'No longer my president'

As in previous weeks, activists appealed to Syrians to join demonstrations after Friday prayers.

Analysis

Lina Sinjab BBC News, Damascus

As on every Friday for the last 100 days, Syrians across the country took to the streets in large numbers after prayers, despite measures taken by the authorities. Tear gas and gunfire are reported to have been used in Midan in central Damascus and in the suburb of Kiswah.

In the town of Salamia near Homs, where the Ismaili minority predominates, an unprecedented number of protesters marched.

While the government seeks a national dialogue with the opposition, on the ground the situation is still dominated by violence and arrests.

Independent opposition figures are holding the first open meeting on Monday to discuss how to move Syria to a civil and democratic country, but they are determined that there will be no dialogue with authorities until violence is ended.

An appeal on Facebook listed a slogan for this week as: "Bashar is no longer my president and his government no longer represents me."

Thousands of people were reported to have turned out in the Damascus suburb of Irbin, the central cities of Homs and Hama, Deraa in the south, and Qamishli and Deir al-Zour in the east.

Residents in Homs told BBC Arabic that one person had been killed in a protest in the district of Jawret al-Arayeis.

The Arab Organization for Human Rights in Syria told the BBC five people were killed and others were injured as security forces opened fire with live ammunition on protesters leaving a mosque in Kiswah, south of Damascus.

Syria has prevented most foreign journalists from entering the country and reports of unrest are hard to verify.

The Local Coordination Committees, which monitor the Syrian protest movement, had earlier reported military trucks in Damascus suburbs, and said roads in the centre of Homs had been blocked.

Friday's protests come after President Assad offered dialogue and reform on Monday, in his third address to the nation since the start of demonstrations.

Activists dismissed the offers as cosmetic or insufficient, and clashes broke out between supporters of President Assad and anti-government protesters on Tuesday.

Flight into Turkey

In the north, Syrian residents have continued to flee a widening crackdown by the army.

“Start Quote

They gave us orders to fire heavily at unarmed civilians”

End Quote Syrian soldier who defected

Syrian refugees tell their stories

Turkish state media said more than 1,500 people crossed the border from Syria on Thursday after troops and tanks moved into the Syrian border village of Khirbet al-Jouz.

Residents and journalists in the Turkish village Guvecci said they could see military activity across the border.

Activists from the Local Coordinating Committees said snipers were also spotted on roofs.

A total of 11,700 Syrian have sought refuge in Turkey, the Turkish government says.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the reported Syrian troop movements were "very worrisome".

The Iranians added to the EU sanctions list were two Revolutionary Guard commanders, Maj Gen Qasem Soleimani and Brig Cmdr Mohammad Ali Jafari, and the Guard's deputy commander for intelligence, Hossein Taeb.

They will now be subject to having their assets frozen and being banned from travel to the EU.

EU officials did not give details of the equipment or support they were accused of providing to Syria.

A UK foreign office spokesman said the UK welcomed the move. "This sends a clear message to the government of Iran that its provision of equipment and technical advice to help the Syrian regime to quash protest is unacceptable," the spokesman told the BBC.

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by Biodun Iginla and Nasra Ismail, BBC News

Syria Crisis

Analysis

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Syria Crisis

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by Biodun Iginla and Nasra Ismail, BBC News

Syria Crisis

Analysis

“Start Quote

More on This Story

Syria Crisis

Features and analysis

In hiding with protesters