Mass arrests reported in Damascus suburb

DAMASCUS, Syria, May 5 (UPI) -- Human rights groups said Syrian authorities rounded up scores of people Thursday in a crackdown on anti-government protests.

Security forces backed by tanks moved into the town of Saqba one day before a nationwide protest was scheduled to take place, activists told The New York Times.

The reports could not be immediately confirmed because journalists are barred from the area. Rights groups have estimated the number of arrests in Saqba at 286.

The Times said Saqba was the scene of a major demonstration last week against President Bashar al-Assad.

Anti-government protesters earlier called on supporters to join nationwide protests Friday.

On its Facebook page, Syrian Revolution 2011, the organizing force behind the 7 weeks of protests in which hundreds have been killed, wounded and imprisoned, posted a poster that read "Freedom is near," and "The people want to get rid of the regime," Yalibnan.com said.

The official news agency SANA said Wednesday a special committee had been formed to investigate the recent deaths.

Judge Mohammad Dib al-Mokatren was appointed to head the committee charged with investigating the "the recent events that led to the loss of lives," SANA said.