Syrian Protests Swell to Tens of Thousands

KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images(DAMASCUS, Syria) -- Tens of thousands people flooded Syrian streets calling for President Bashar al-Assad to step down, despite the persistent crackdown by military personnel.  Anti-government protests were staged in Damascus, the nation's capital city, as well as in other cities along border regions.

Calling on the Syrian government to put reforms in play, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday said the torn country's lawmakers are running out of time.  If government officials in Syria do not act quickly on reforms, she said during a visit in Lithuania, they will come up against more organized resistance.

Human rights groups report at least 14 protesters have been killed by military troops across Syria over the last two days.  They estimate around 1,700 people have been killed in the protests over the last three months.

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