A Syrian boy carries a banner during an anti-government demonstration in Banias, Syria. Syrian security forces fired bullets and tear gas into crowds Friday and Saturday. Thousands of people are demonstrating there for democracy.

BEIRUT — Witnesses say the death toll has risen to six as Syrian security forces fire on thousands of people taking part in funeral processions following the deadliest day of the country’s uprising.

Two witnesses say security forces opened fire Saturday on people heading to the southern village of Izraa, killing two. Another witness says four people were slain outside the capital, Damascus.

Saturday’s witness account could not be independently confirmed because Syria has expelled journalists and restricted access to trouble spots.

The crackdown Saturday comes one day after security forces killed more than 75 people in the deadliest day of the uprising against authoritarian President Bashar Assad.

About 5,000 people were gathering Saturday near the Osman Ibin Afan mosque in Izraa, a southern village that was the scene of some of the worst violence Friday, witnesses said. Fifteen corpses were to be buried after the noon prayers.

In Washington, President Barack Obama said the violence was “outrageous” and called on Assad to obey the will of his people by giving them freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and the ability to choose their leaders.

Among those killed Friday were a 70-year-old man and two boys ages 7 and 10, according to Amnesty International. The scenes of carnage were posted on the protest movement’s main Facebook page.

The bloodshed so far has only served to invigorate protesters whose demands have snowballed from modest reforms to the downfall of the 40-year Assad family dynasty. Each Friday, growing numbers of people in multiple cities have taken to the streets despite the near certainty that they would come under swift attack from security forces.