Security forces in Syria told striking shopkeepers to open up their stores on the first day of a mass strike called by the opposition to support a nine-month revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.
Activists are promoting the strike to encourage Syrians who may be frightened to join the uprising against the Assad family's 41-year rule.
His forces have cracked down on a revolt that began in March with peaceful protests but has become increasingly violent. Army deserters are now fighting state security forces.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said security forces in some neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Damascus forced shopkeepers to open their shops.
"They were taken down to their stores and ordered to open them. They refused and the police smashed open the shop doors," said Rami Abdulrahman, head of the British-based rights group.
In the southern city of Deraa, security forces and militiamen loyal to Assad broke up the strike.
One witness said that "they started pulling up the shutters of shops in the main Hanano and Martyrs streets in Deraa city to force shops to open."
Official state media made no mention of Sunday's strikes. Central parts of the capital Damascus and the business hub Aleppo seemed calm though there are reports of strikes taking hold in some areas on the outskirts of both cities.
