Reports from Syria say that protests were organised throughout today opposing the rule of President Bashar Assad and demanding sweeping political reforms in the country. Agency reports quoting a rights campaigner has said that Syrian president has ordered troops not to fire on pro-democracy demonstrators. Human rights groups say that between 700 and 850 people have been killed since the start of the uprising in mid-March, with the United Nations saying that it considers these estimates realistic. Earlier this week, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Syria to allow an international aid assessment team to enter the city of Daraa.