Ten martyrs fell and several people were wounded by gunfire from security forces during protests in several Syrian towns after the 'taraweeh' evening prayers" on Monday's first day of Ramadan, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights chief Rami Abdel Rahman said, adding that the day's death toll was 24.

He told AFP in Nicosia that six people were killed when thousands of protesters turned out in Irbin northeast of the capital, one was killed near Damascus, two in Latakia and one in the central city of Homs.

More than 150 people were taken in for questioning on Monday evening, Abdel Rahman added.