Thousands march in Damascus as anti-Assad protests gather pace

Protests against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad have swept into the capital, Damascus, for the first time since a wave of pro-democracy unrest began to put pressure on his 11-year rule.

Thousands also marched elsewhere across the country, despite a fierce crackdown and some political concessions announced by Mr Assad in an attempt to quell spreading unrest.

Shouting "God, Syria, Freedom", protesters repeated the demand for democratic reform and freedoms across many cities.

In Damascus, security forces used batons and tear gas to prevent thousands from reaching the main Abbasside Square.

"I counted 15 mukhabarat (secret police] busloads," one witness said. "They went into the alleyways just north of the square chasing protesters and yelling 'you pimps, you infiltrators. You want freedom? We will give it to you'."

A witness who accompanied marchers from the Harasta suburb said thousands chanted "the people want the overthrow of the regime" and tore down posters of Mr Assad along the route.

Mr Assad's use of force, mass arrests and accusations that armed groups have instigated the unrest, mixed with promises of reform and concessions to minority groups and conservative Muslims, have not placated protesters.

On Thursday, he unveiled a new government, which has little power in the one-party state, and ordered the release of some detainees - one human rights lawyer said was a "drop in the ocean" compared to the thousands of political prisoners still held.

Nevertheless, protesters gathered in even larger numbers on the Muslim day of prayer.

Activists reported protests in the city of Deir al-Zor near the Iraqi border, the coastal city of Banias and Deraa in the south, where the first demonstrations began against the detention of teenagers who scrawled revolutionary graffiti on school walls.

Syrian state TV reported what it said were relatively small, peaceful demonstrations.

Emergency law, in force since the Baath party took power in a coup in 1963, bans public gatherings of more than five people.