(S (S (ADVP (RB However)) (COMMA ,) (S (S (NP (BASENP (NNS protests)) (PP (IN in) (BASENP (NNP Damascus)))) (VP (ADVP (RB reportedly)) (VP (VBD turned) (ADJP (JJ violent))))) (SBAR (IN as) (S (BASENP (NN security) (NNS forces)) (VP (VBD were) (VP (VBN said) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VP (VP (VB disperse) (BASENP (DT the) (NNS crowds))) (PP (IN with) (NP (BASENP (NNS batons)) (CC and) (BASENP (NN tear) (NN gas))))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB prevent) (S (BASENP (NNS protesters)) (VP (VBG reaching) (NP (BASENP (DT the) (NN capital) (POS 's)) (BASENP (JJ main) (NN square))))))))))))))))) (PERIOD .))