The Associated Press quotes activists, saying that Syrian security forces have shot dead eight people including a 16-year-old boy during anti-government protests.

The toll was reported Friday by the Local Coordination Committees, a group that documents the protests, and by rights activist Mustafa Osso.

Three people were killed in the central city of Homs, two in the eastern town of Deir el-Zour and two in the Damascus suburb of Harasta.

The 16-year-old died in the southern village of Dael.