Activists say at least 24 Syrian civilians have been killed as security forces fired on anti-government protesters as part of a nationwide crackdown.

Syria-based rights activist Mustafa Osso says most of the deaths occurred in Damascus suburbs during daytime Friday, August 5 protests and late night demonstrations following evening Ramadan prayers.

He says five civilians were killed in the besieged city of Hama and its surrounding countryside.

The toll was confirmed Saturday by the Local Coordination Committees, a key activist groups tracking the Syrian uprising, AP reported.