Police fire on funerals in Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria, April 23 (UPI) -- Syrian police fired at mourners Saturday at funerals for protesters killed a day earlier, human-rights activists said.

At least six more people died, The New York Times reported. At least 104 people were gunned down Friday in one of the most violent days in weeks of protest in Syria.

Protesters have been calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad and an end to Baath Party rule. Assad has made many concessions, including repealing a decades-old emergency decree, but has refused to step down.

Syria doesn't allow foreign media into the country, although photos and videos are being posted online by rebels. The state-run SANA news agency said Friday much of what's been sent out was staged and fake. It said the military had captured some organized gangs carrying bottles of fake blood to use in phony videos.

SANA also said the military only used tear gas and water cannons to dispel protesters Friday, although U.S. President Barack Obama issued a statement indicating he didn't believe that.

"This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now," Obama said. "Instead of listening to their own people, President Assad is blaming outsiders while seeking Iranian assistance in repressing Syria's citizens through the same brutal tactics that have been used by his Iranian allies."

Rights groups estimate as many as 280 people have been killed in the six weeks of violence, The Guardian said.

Two members of Parliament, Khalil al-Rifai and Nasser al-Hariri, told Qatar broadcaster al-Jazeera Saturday they are giving up their seats to protest the crackdown on demonstrations. Parliament has very little power.