Dozens killed in deadliest day of Syrian uprisings

>>> good evening. this uprisings, the citizen revolutions we have been covering from the middle east over to north africa have been popping up like thunderstorms. usually it's a slow build then an explosion of violence and then a real test of the government versus the newly empowered citizens. now it's syria . it's bubbled up there before riceantly and now it's happening again. and the government policy seems to be crack down at all costs. today, troops there fired on protesters, killing dozens of them. syria 's ruler, assad took power from his father and doesn't intend to give it up without a fight. andrea mitchell here with us in our studios. the story continues to change.

>> it does. it's erupting as we speak. tonight, syria exploded with the government firing at protesters and tens of thousands taking to the streets. as many as 75 people or more are dead. there's no way to track that toll because syria is blocking journalists' access. it was the deadliest days since protests erupted months ago. crowds chanted "overthrow the regime" in the face of a brutal crackdown of a government still refusing to make good on a promise to make good. one of the horrifying images, a young boy apparently shot in the head. emboldened protesters demolished a statue of the founder. the father of the current president --

>> the security forces are shooting randomly.

>> the ruler ameen, one of the few journalists recording from syria said demonstrators didn't provoke the attacks.

>> they tell us there were very peaceful protests and there was no reason for the government to use this much deadly power.

>> they're relying on social networks to reach each other. a facebook page, a twitter page, and tweets crying for help.

>> it's like the people of syria are learning how not to be afraid. if this keeps mushrooming, he could be pushed from offense.

>> tonight, president obama issued a statement condemning the use of force by ssyria' government and said the force must end now, but the u.s. isn't going to intervene. unlike gadhafi, serious dictator still has the support of his arab neighborhoods. that's a big difference.

>> always tough to us to get in there and cover stories, but it looks like here we go again. thajs.