Gunmen have shot dead prominent Syrian Kurdish opposition figure Mishaal al-Tammo in his home in Qamishli, north-eastern Syria, activists say.
Anti-regime activists said four men entered his home and opened fire.
The US state department blamed the Syrian authorities for the deaths, reportedly calling the killing a "clear escalation of regime tactics".
Meanwhile, at least eight people were killed in protests following Friday prayers.
The deaths occurred in the central city of Homs, the Damascus suburb of Douma and in Zabadani, near the Lebanese border, activists reported.
Mr Tammo's son and a fellow Kurdish political activist were wounded in Friday's shooting, reports said.
Anti-regime activists said four men entered his home and opened fire.
The US state department blamed the Syrian authorities for the deaths, reportedly calling the killing a "clear escalation of regime tactics".
Meanwhile, at least eight people were killed in protests following Friday prayers.
The deaths occurred in the central city of Homs, the Damascus suburb of Douma and in Zabadani, near the Lebanese border, activists reported.
Mr Tammo's son and a fellow Kurdish political activist were wounded in Friday's shooting, reports said.