Protest goes wrong

BEIRUT (AP):A mass protest calling for sweeping changes in Syria's authoritarian regime turned bloody yesterday, with the government and protesters both claiming to have sustained heavy casualties in a restive southern city as the country's three-week uprising entered a dangerous new phase.

Human rights activists and witnesses speaking to The Associated Press by telephone said Syrian security forces opened fire on tens of thousands of protesters in Daraa, killing 16 and wounding hundreds.

But state TV said 19 policemen and members of the security forces were killed when gunmen opened fire on them.