The latest violence comes as exiled Syrian opposition groups have called on President Bashar al-Assad to step down immediately. Meeting in Turkey, nearly 300 delegates issued a declaration demanding Assad’s departure.

Moulhem Droubi: “We are offering President Bashar al-Assad to resign immediately and transfer the authorities to his deputies so that the Syrian people, within a year time, can prepare themselves for a democratic process. If not, we are pressing in supporting the revolution in Syria in order to force him to leave Syria for Syrians.”