At least seven killed in Syria on Eid al-Fitr feast

Syrian forces are reported to have killed seven people on Tuesday, the first day of the Eid al-Fitr feast which comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The deaths come a day after the EU moved to ban oil imports from Syria over its brutal crackdown on dissent. 

Reuters/Handout

Those who died included four in the town of Al-Harra, two in Inkhil in the Daraa province, and one in the central city of Homs.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three people were killed and nine wounded when security forces opened fire to disperse a huge demonstration in Al-Harra after the Eid al-Fitr prayers.

The Local Coordination Committees said protesters rallied against the regime after the early morning prayers traditionally held on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, with protests reported in Nawa, Dael and other districts of Daraa.

It said a "huge" protest was formed as worshippers emerged from the Al-Omari mosque in Daraa and marched to the town's cemetery. Muslims traditionally visit their dead on the first day of the feast.

The Committees also reported massive security deployments in the central flashpoint province of Homs and say that gunfire was heard in the vicinity of the citadel of the city of Homs, where communications were largely cut.

On Monday, 17 people were killed by Syrian forces and dozens wounded as troops and security forces conducted raids in several areas across the country, according to the Britain-based Observatory.

More than 2,200 people have been killed in the Syrian regime's crackdown on pro-democracy protests since mid-March, according to United Nations' figures.

Meanwhile, the European Union reached an agreement in principle on Monday to ban oil imports from Syria to punish the regime for its crackdown on protesters.

The new sanctions were backed by all representatives at a meeting of experts from the 27-nation bloc in Brussels.

Individual EU governments are expected to give their final approval by the end of the week, the diplomat said.