Mustafa Osso says the troops are now in control of the southern town of Hirak, which is near the city of Daraa where the uprising against President Bashar Assad’s autocratic regime began in mid-March.

The activist says the eight died over the past two days when the army began bombing the town with tanks and artillery. Osso says among those killed was 11-year-old Malak Munir Al-Qaddah who was shot dead by troops late on Tuesday.

Osso says scores of people have also been detained.

Rights groups say more than 1,000 people have been killed in the regime’s crackdown on the uprising.

The attack comes a day after Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad issued a general amnesty to political prisoners.

Syrian opposition groups have called the amnesty too little and too late to appease people on the streets.

France said on Wednesday that Syria should instead move for a more fundamental change in policy to deal with protests sweeping the country.

“I fear it may be too late,” France’s Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told France Culture radio. “The Syrian authorities’ change of direction will have to be much clearer and more ambitious than a simple amnesty.”

President Nicolas Sarkozy stepped up his language against Assad as he hosted France’s Group of Eight summit last week, saying France no longer had faith in the country and agreed with Washington that Assad must bring about a swift democratic transition or leave power.

Rights campaigners say at least 1,000 people have been killed and more than 10,000 arrested in the unrest, and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed concern this week about the reported torture of a 13-year-old boy.

Assad’s declaration of an amnesty was the latest in a series of reforms, including lifting a 48-year state of emergency, aimed at addressing protesters’ grievances.