Calls for international action have grown as the violence in Syria has
worsened. Nearly 700 people were killed last week, according to
pro-opposition human rights groups in Syria, making it one of the bloodiest
since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began 15 months ago.
More than 60 are said to have died on Sunday.
More than 150 government soldiers are thought to be among the dead. In a sign
that morale in the armed forces is suffering, the Syrian opposition reported
the defection of more than 30 soldiers after a rebel attack on an artillery
battalion near the city of Aleppo. The defectors took their weapons with
them, they said.
Last week, a pilot in the Syrian Air Force — considered the wing of the armed
forces most loyal to Mr Assad — defected after flying his fighter jet to
Jordan.