Scenes from the frontlines in Syria.

Government snipers man the rooftops in a town near Aleppo.

As Reuters journalists leave, they come under fire.

They seek shelter in an olive garden amid the sound of gunfire -- waiting until nightfall before leaving.

A very different scene in a village in the restive province of Idlib.

Demonstrators gather in the center of town.

They call for the end of the regime of President Bashar-al Assad.

Across Syria, defiant protesters took to the streets after Friday prayers. Activists say 40 people were killed on Friday in violence across the country on Friday.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER HAMID, SAYING:

"We are asking all the people of the world. In Syria we need freedom. We will keep our peaceful demonstrations and we hope that many people will join the Syrian army. We need Syrian army to protect us from the Assad regime. The regime is corrupted. Assad was in charge for a long time but right now we don't want him anymore."

The UN says more than 7,500 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising began a year ago.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.