BBC News with Iain Purdon

Thousands of people have demonstrated in cities and towns across Syria, calling for more freedom. In the southern city of Deraa, protesters said at least 20 people were reported to have been killed when shots rang out after a statue of the former President Hafez al-Assad was set alight. The Syrian authorities prevented journalists from entering Deraa. Lina Sinjab sent this report from Damascus.

Heavy gunfire was heard in Deraa following an attempt by protesters to destroy a statue of the late President Hafez al-Assad. They were

chant

ing for freedom and criticising Maher al-Assad, the brother of President Bashar al-Assad and the head of the presidential guards.

Meanwhile, there are more reports of protests across the country, most

significantly

in the city of Hama that was attacked by the government of the late Hafez al-Assad in the 1980s.

Despite the violence and bloodshed, it appears that Syrians are losing their fear of their rulers.

Several other countries in the region have also seen mass protests. In Yemen, tens of thousands of people took part in peaceful demonstrations both for and against the government in the capital Sanaa. The President Ali Abdullah Saleh addressed a crowd of his supporters.

"We don't want power, but we need to hand power over to safe hands, not to sick,

resentful

or corrupt hands. We are ready to leave power but only for safe hands chosen by the people. Our people