Protesters began to gather in main squares in Syria ahead of Friday's planned rallies, after four demonstrators were killed overnight in the southern city of Daraa, DPA reported.
The four were shot dead during a demonstration in Daraa's district of Daeel, activists said.
Protesters were marching, chanting "God is great" while security forces were shooting in the air to disperse them, activists added.
It was not clear if the protesters died by security fire.
More protests have been taking place at night across the country, to allow more people to join after their work or school.
According to rights groups, almost 1,100 people have been killed since the demonstrations calling for greater freedoms, political reforms and the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad began in March.
Hundreds began to gather Friday in the centre of Ruston, a town near the eastern city of Homs.
"We call on people from near by towns and villages to head to Ruston town, so that it would be an earth-shattering demonstration," activists wrote on the Syrian Revolution 2011 group online.
Security forces continued to bolster their presence in the Idlib district town of Maarat al-Naaman, in a bid to quell demonstrations in the town and surrounding villages.
Internet has been cut off across the capital, and its countryside. Ground phone lines have been cut in Harasta, Douma, Zamlaka, and other areas for two days.
Over the past weeks, massive demonstrations have occurred regularly on Friday as thousands of protesters emerge from mosques after the weekly noon prayers. Al-Assad took office in 2000, following the death of his father, president Hafiz al-Assad.
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