Protests continued the following day with thousands gathering in the capital and reported clashes with police and protesters.

Sitting at his desk in Damascus one recent night, he was fielding calls from Kurds across northern Syria reporting deadly clashes with government forces.

They reported clashes between the regular army and the Free Syrian Army in the southern town of Tafas.

Witnesses reported continued clashes throughout the day in Basra even after the announcements.

In Dresden, witnesses reported violent clashes between police and would-be emigrants desperate to board trains to the West.

Disputing claimants regularly report clashes between naval vessels.

Reuters reported clashes in Msallata on 3 August, in which three people were killed.

Activists also reported violent clashes in Hama, where the observers were due to visit (see 3.21pm).

The Observatory also reported clashes and arrests in Aleppo.

A week later, the Syrian observatory for Human Rights reported heavy clashes in several of the city's neighborhoods.