Government security forces fired on protesters after Friday prayers, killing at least 32 people, witnesses said.
Mass protests against President Bashar al-Assad and the violent response came a day after President Barack Obama, in a major speech on U.S. policy in the region, warned Assad to be moderate, The Washington Post said. Obama said Assad should "get out of the way" if he is unwilling or unable to lead Syria to democracy.
Wissam Tarif, a leader of the human rights group Insan, told the Post Obama's remarks have encouraged the protest movement, even though he stopped short of calling for Assad's departure.
"Syrian people felt abandoned, and when they heard Obama saying this to Assad, reform or leave, they didn't feel alone anymore," he said. "People felt America was supporting him. Now that's off, so now he can leave."
A human rights lawyer said the Syrian government under Assad might be broken beyond repair. The New York Times said.
"The truth is that with the regime continuing to fire on peaceful protesters, they are losing the chance for dialogue," said the lawyer, Razan Zeitouneh, who is based in Damascus. "People are not willing to enter into a dialogue with a government that has killed their children."
In the city of Homs, a resident identified only by his first name for fear of retaliation, said security forces fired at protesters in four neighborhoods.
"We lifted the old Syrian flag on top of one government building," said the resident, Mohamed. "We don't want anything related to this regime. We will even break the cup of tea they are offering us."