Tension high after security forces reportedly fire on Syrian mourners

(CNN) — Dozens of Syrian police officers have been injured in anti-government protests, the country’s Interior Ministry said Sunday, a day after witnesses reported that security forces opened fire on people mourning slain protesters.

At least 10 people died Saturday after Syrian security forces opened fire on mourners at funeral processions in the Damascus suburb of Douma and the southern town of Izraa, according to witness accounts, adding to a rapidly growing death toll.

Syria’s Interior Ministry, meanwhile, said 38 police officers were injured in clashes with armed groups Saturday, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported.

The accusations come amid heightened tensions between troops and protesters as public discontent with President Bashar al-Assad’s regime grows. Syrians have staged anti-government protests for weeks, demanding the immediate release of political prisoners, lifting of emergency and martial law, and withdrawal of intelligence forces from Syrian cities.

On Thursday, al-Assad lifted the country’s 48-year-old state of emergency and abolished the state security court, both of which were key demands of the demonstrators. But anti-government protests have continued, with dozens reported killed Friday.

The brazen Friday killings rippled through the Syrian political establishment. Syrian parliament member Khalil Al Rifai, announced his resignation Saturday in a television interview, saying security forces had opened fire even though al-Assad promised not to use force against protesters.

Protests continued early Sunday morning in a suburb outside Syria’s capital, with people waving candles and chanting, “the people want to topple the regime,” activist Wissam Tarif said.

Tarif, who is not in Syria but remains in contact with activists across the country, said he was told Saturday that forces were firing in the air and at random targets as more than 10,000 protesters took to the streets.

Witnesses in Izraa said tens of thousands of people gathered for a funeral procession, when, one witness said, “suddenly they opened fire on us and it was raining bullets. We were chanting peacefully, peacefully and they fired at us.”

As thousands of people marched from the burial grounds toward Douma’s main hospital Saturday, security forces on the rooftops of government buildings fired shots, a witness said.

“We were chanting, ‘With our bloods with our souls we will sacrifice for you, martyrs.’ And all of sudden and without warning, they fired indiscriminately into the crowd,” the witness said.

Tarif said activists have confirmed at least 84 deaths from Friday’s confrontations between protesters and security forces.

Amnesty International reported at least 75 deaths on Friday.

“The Syrian authorities have again responded to peaceful calls for change with bullets and batons,” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa director.

The protests began last month in the southern city of Daraa after a violent crackdown by security forces on peaceful demonstrators protesting the arrests of youths who scribbled anti-government graffiti.

The tough crackdown in Daraa spurred more protest. As peaceful demonstrations spread to other regions, such as Latakia, Banias, and the Damascus suburbs, the protests were met with force that emboldened the protesters’ resolve.

The government made some efforts at reform, include the lifting of the country’s emergency law, the abolition of a special court that tried regime opponents, the establishment of a new Cabinet, and the granting of citizenship to stateless people in the country’s northeastern Kurdish region.

But activists think the violent crackdown Friday undermines the lifting of the emergency law. They also have other complaints with the government, such as immunity for its security officers and the incarceration of political prisoners and those arrested for participating in peaceful protests.

They want the easing of the ruling Baath Party’s power and a law that would permit the establishment of independent political parties.