Washington, D.C. (AP) - President Barack Obama is condemning the
latest use of force by Syria against anti-government demonstrators
and says the regime's "outrageous" use of violence against the
protesters must "end now."

At least 75 people were killed Friday when Syrian security
forces fired bullets and tear gas at thousands of protesters across
the country. It was the bloodiest day of the monthlong uprising
against President Bashar Assad.

In a statement, Obama says Syria's moves a day earlier to repeal
a decades-old emergency law and allow peaceful demonstrations were not serious in light of Friday's events.

He called on Assad to change course and obey the will of his
people by giving them what they seek -- freedom of expression,
association, peaceful assembly and the ability to choose their
leaders.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)