[Al Jazeera] Syrian troops have been deployed in the southern city of Daraa a day after an anti-government protester was killed when forces reportedly fired on a demonstration.News agencies, citing residents, said that thousands of Syrians marched on Monday in the town following the funeral of Raed Akrad, the killed protester.
A resident told the AFP news agency that "mass of demonstrators started to march from the cemetery towards al-Omari mosque after the burial".
"Just God, Syria and Freedom," and "Revolution, revolution" demonstrators chanted, the resident said.
Another witness said security forces had been deployed to block protests, but people had gathered regardless.
However Rula Amin, Al Jizz's correspondent in Daraa, said the situation on Monday was "very tense but it is quiet".
"There are a lot of security, the army as well as police, there are a lot of checkpoints. But we didn't see any protests, people told us there was a funeral this morning but it ended with no festivities," she said.
Protesters have been demonstrating in Syria since last week, calling for an end to corruption and 48 years of emergency law. They have also been protesting against the killing of five civilians in a similar demonstration three days ago.
On Sunday crowds set fire to the courthouse and other buildings, including the headquarters of the ruling Baath party.
The protests are becoming a major challenge for Bashar Assad, Syria's president, as activists inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt call for action.
Daraa is primarily an agricultural community, and its economy has been hurt by falling water levels in recent years.
The region also houses thousands of people who left their homes in eastern Syria because of an ongoing water crisis.