Syrian troops opened fire on protesters on Friday in Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo, the country's commercial hub, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Meanwhile, the Observatory reported at least 29 deaths across the country, including four civilians, 18 soldiers and seven rebel fighters.

Protesters had taken to the streets across the country to renew their demands for the fall of the regime, this time under the slogan: "Remove
(UN-Arab League envoy) Kofi Annan, the servant of Assad and Iran."

In Damascus, "regime troops shot heavy rounds of live gunfire in the Nahr Aysha district to disperse protesters," the Observatory said, adding that demonstrators were also shot at in the Sayida Zainab district.

Three protesters were wounded in the Damascus suburb of Harasta, the watchdog said.

In Aleppo, troops opened fire in a bid to disperse the demonstrations, the Observatory said.