The six-day-old assault on Hama, which has killed at least 100 people, seemed to do little to intimidate protesters, who marched through cities across the country on the first Friday of Ramadan. The theme of protests nationwide Friday was "God is With Us."

Security forces opened fire with live ammunition and tear gas in several cities, activists said. At least seven people were killed in the Damascus suburb of Arbeen, according to the London-based Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Coordination Committees. They said one person was killed in the suburb of Moaddamiya and two in the central city of Homs.

Residents of the eastern city of Deir Al-Zour are bracing for an army assault. A video posted on YouTube showed a sheikh telling a tribal meeting that negotiations with authorities to release detainees and withdraw the military had failed and that security forces were bent on storming the city.

UN rights investigators said Friday Syrian forces must stop using excessive force against protesters that has resulted in executions and other crimes punishable under international law.

"We continue to receive reports on systematic use of excessive force resulting in killings and injuries; allegations of torture, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention of protesters; targeting of human rights defenders; and unjustified limitations on freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression," the United Nations experts said.

Meanwhile, an Austrian company said it was reviewing a contract to provide bank notes to Syria, but said no deliveries were due in the near future.

The Austria Press Agency reported Friday that printing company OeBS said it had a contract with Syria from 2008 to deliver lira bank notes. OeBS spokesman Alfred Cipera said the company was examining the contract and that could result in it pulling out.