Syrian forces kill six despite Assad pledge

Syrian Security Forces killed 6 protestors today, the day after both the U.S. Government and European Union called on Syria President Bashar al-Assad to step down from power. Four protestors were killed in Inkhil and there were reports that security forces were attacking demonstrators outside of Deraa. The deaths come the day after Assad said that his government would end its military crackdown. Large protests took place throughout Syria after the call for Assad to step down and the government deployed military units and snipers in the city of Zabadani to quell protests there. The U.S. and The European Union have both called for greater sanctions against the Syrian Regime, though the U.S. has already frozen Syrian Assets in the states and has banned the importation of oil from Syria. Russia is currently against Assad stepping down as the Russian Government believes that the Syrian Government should be given time to implement reforms.