Six Killed in Syrian Flashpoint City

Syrian activists say six people were killed in the flashpoint city of Daraa on Saturday, after the military and snipers opened fire on civilians. Activists say a woman and her two daughters were among those killed when a tank shell hit their home.

Witnesses say troops had moved into Daraa to seize control of a prominent mosque , where anti-government protesters had been gathering.

The military crackdown took place one day after activists and witnesses said at least 65 people were killed when government forces moved in to suppress opposition protests across Syria. The majority of Friday's deaths were reported in Daraa.

In another development in the Daraa region, 138 more members of President Bashar al-Assad's Baath party resigned in protest against the government's crackdown. Several hundred had resigned earlier.

Meanwhile, activists say security forces in Damascus arrested 11 women on Saturday. They were part of a group of about 50 women who were chanting slogans against the government's crackdown on protests.

Syrian human rights groups say at least 560 civilians have been killed by the country's security forces since the anti-government protests erupted six weeks ago.

Syrian Prime Minister Adel Safar announced plans for more reforms on Saturday, in an apparent bid to appease opposition activists. The state-run SANA news agency quotes the newly appointed prime minister as saying his government will draw up new political, economic and security measures in the coming weeks.

President Assad recently announced a series of reforms. Earlier this month, he lifted the country's almost 50-year-old emergency law a key demand of protesters.