Syrian opposition groups are calling for mass protests a day after a raid by security forces on university dormitories killed four students and forced the closure of the state-run school, Belfast Telegraph reported.

Friday is the day of weekly anti-government protests in Syria, when thousands of demonstrators regularly take to the streets calling for the ousting of President Bashar Assad.

The university incident sparked outrage in the north-western city of Aleppo and activists said new protests were expected.

The Syrian National Council opposition group urged students across Syria to stage a strike.

The group also said the international community through its silence was encouraging the Assad regime to continue with its brutal crackdown on dissent.