DAMASCUS - The National Organization for Human Rights in Syrian said Saturday that 44 Syrians were killed in Friday's anti-government protests, pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV reported.

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The organization said that most of deaths were in the provinces of Homs and Idlib.

Human rights activists said the security forces have killed 960 citizens so far during the protests that have been sweeping the country since mid-March.

On Friday, thousands of anti-government protesters rallied in cities of Damascus, Homs, Daraa, Banias, al-Boukamal and Idlib in what activists had dubbed as "Friday of freedom," witnessed said.