Syrian troops fire teargas at protesters in Deraa

Security forces in Syria are reported to have fired teargas and fired shots in the air as anti-government protests flared again in the southern city of Deraa.

The unrest followed clashes in Latakia over the weekend in which at least 12 people died, and promises by the authorities to lift emergency laws restricting public gatherings and allowing arrests on the grounds of national security.

A witness told Associated Press that forces had fired teargas as up to 4,000 people protested in Deraa. He said security forces fired teargas at first. He also heard gunfire, although it appeared guns were being fired in the air.

A witness told Reuters news agency demonstrators had converged on a main square in the city, chanting "We want dignity and freedom" and "No to emergency laws".

Security forces have struggled to deal with unrest in the southern city and other centres but authorities have held out the prospect of decisions that would "please the Syrian people" in the next two days. An announcement by president Bashar al-Assad was promised by the vice-president Farouq al-Shara, speaking on Lebanese Hezbollah's al-Manar television. There were no details.

Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said he had spoken to the Syrian president twice over the weekend urging reforms. "They told us they were working on political parties … we hope these measures are actually implemented rather than remaining promises," Erdogan said.

"We did not receive a negative answer when we urged Mr Assad to listen to the voice of people. I hope he makes the announcement today or tomorrow … It is impossible for us to remain silent in the face of these events, we have a 800km-long border with Syria."