A Syrian rights group today said 44 people were killed in yesterday's crackdown on anti-government protesters in the country. The National Organization for Human Rights said most of the deaths took place in the western province of Idlib and the central region of Homs, after Syrian security forces cracked down on demonstrators. Witnesses and activists had earlier reported that 30 people were killed in the pro-democracy protests. Yesterday, media quoted witnesses in several cities as saying security forces used live ammunition on demonstrators who took to the streets to rally against President Bashar al-Assad's government. Syrian rights activists say more than 850 civilians have been killed since mid-March, when protesters began calling for democratic reforms and Mr. Assad's ouster. Authorities have arrested at least 7,000 people as part of a government crackdown.