Residents said armed resistance erupted on Friday against Assad's forces in several neighborhoods of Deir al-Zor after the killing of five protesters, shot

dead by Syrian security forces in a new effort to try to crush widening Sunni Muslim unrest against Assad.



Thousands took to streets across the country after Friday prayers to demand the downfall of Assad, witnesses and activists said. Several other people were injured during the clashes. Thousands took to streets across the country after Friday prayers to demand the downfall of Assad, witnesses and activists said. Several other people were injured during the clashes.

"They are firing at demonstrators in alleyways and people are running for cover. Protesters have been trying to avoid heavy security in main streets," a resident of Deraa, a technician who gave his name as Ayman, told Reuters by phone. Security forces also used tear gas to try to disperse demonstrators in Deraa, witnesses said.



Also on Friday, saboteurs "targeted" an oil pipeline near the central city of Homs, the official Syrian news agency said, without giving details of the nature of the attack.



Homs is home to one of Syria's two oil refineries and has seen large protests demanding the toppling of Assad whose forces have deployed tanks in the city.



On Sunday Assad replaced the civilian governor of Deir al-Zor province with a secret police officer, two days after the biggest pro-democracy demonstrations in the province so far in the uprising.