7 killed by security forces in Syrian town Homs: Activist

At least seven people were killed overnight by Syrian security forces in the flashpoint town of Homs, rights activists told AFP today.

Two activists, who declined to be identified, spoke of seven dead, but a third said nine had died. They all agreed that some 20 people had been wounded.

Yesterday, in the nearby town of Talbisseh, at least four people were killed and more than 50 wounded when security forces opened fire on a funeral procession for a demonstrator killed on Friday, witnesses said.

The opposition had called for demonstrations yesterday to make the 65th anniversary of Syrian independence, dismissing as inadequate proposed reforms by President Bashar al-Assad the previous day, when he promised to abolish stringent emergency laws in force for nearly 50 years.