The Syrian government says 12 people were killed over the weekend, when violence erupted during anti-government protests in the coastal city of Lattakia.
At least 200 people were wounded when unidentified gunmen on rooftops opened fire on the protesters.
Meanwhile, Syrian authorities have released a woman whose arrest helped to fuel days of mass protests in the southern city of Deraa.
A lawyer for Diana Jawabra says she was among 16 people freed from custody on Sunday.
They were detained for writing freedom slogans on the walls of a school and calling for the release of political prisoners.
