Opposition activists in Syria say security forces have killed 30 or more people as the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has continued its crackdown against protesters in the face of international condemnation.
Reports quote activists as saying the killings August 19 occurred in the southern province of Deraa, where the uprising against the regime started in March, the city of Homs, and elsewhere.
The reported violence came despite claims by the regime this week that it had halted military and police operations.
The reported shooting also came one day after the United States and the European Union, in a coordinated move, called on President Assad to leave power.
Both the U.S. and EU have imposed sanctions targeting the regime, but reports say no international military action is being considered for the Syrian situation at this time.
More than 2,000 people are estimated to have died in the Syrian conflict since the unrest began five months ago.
compiled from agency reports