The U.N. human rights office says at least 3,500 people have been killed in the Syrian government's eight month crackdown on dissent, while activists say deadly assaults continued in the central city of Homs. A spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights ((Ravina Shamdasani)) said the total includes 19 people killed Sunday during the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. Activists said government security forces killed two people Tuesday in the Baba Amr district of Homs, Syria's third largest city that is at the center an uprising against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.
Nearly a week of deadly assaults has killed more than 110 people, despite a deal struck with the Arab League to halt the violence. Syrian ambassador to the Arab League Youssef Ahmed said Monday Syria has taken significant steps toward fulfilling the deal, such as releasing 500 prisoners as part of a conditional amnesty.