Waves of protesters flooded the streets nationwide to demand the fall of the regime, with varying reports putting the turnout in the central city of Hama alone at more than half a million.
The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, spoke of 500,000 protesters and said this was "the biggest demonstration since the Syrian Revolution broke out" on March 15.
Another activist said that "more than 400,000 marched," adding that "they came from all over, from mosques and nearby towns."
A third said more than 200,000 had gathered in the city's Assi Square, stretching for more than one kilometre, and that there was no sign of security forces.
That's a lot any way you want to count them, especially after all this time and bloodshed.
How long can the army's draftees stand by and do nothing to help the people while loyal security forces shoot and arrest?
