At least 15 people are said to have died in renewed protests across Syria against President Bashar al-Assad. Activists said security forces fired tear gas and bullets after Friday prayers in Damascus and elsewhere, but Syrian state TV blamed unidentified gunmen for some deaths. Meanwhile, the EU has expanded sanctions against the Assad government. It added three members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and four Syrians to a list of more than 30 people targeted. More than 1,300 people have been killed and thousands more detained since a crackdown on anti-government protests began in March. While the government seeks a national dialogue with the opposition, on the ground the situation is still dominated by violence and arrests.