And as China expressed its concern at the wider implications of the turbulence, the United States warned of signs that President Bashar Assad’s opponents were turning to violence.

“Three civilians were killed and seven others were injured during an assault by the army and security agents against the Homs district of Bayada,” said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The attack came after deserter soldiers burned a tank in the area, the Britain-based rights group said.

The forces killed two civilians during raids in the northern town of Jabal Al-Zawiya, and another civilian was killed and five wounded in a dawn operation in southern Daraa province, where the protests began in mid-March.

Powerful guns, some mounted on tanks, were used on people in Rastan, Talbisseh and Tir Maala, all in central Homs province, the Observatory added, a day after reporting four soldiers were shot dead trying to desert in Idlib.

Meanwhile, Britain, France, Germany and Portugal soon plan to circulate a new draft resolution condemning Syria that drops calls for immediate sanctions against Damascus, diplomats said on Tuesday.

The resolution, which is aimed at breaking a deadlock on the Security Council, will include the threat of future sanctions if the government does not halt military operations against civilians.

“We want to send a strong and unified message to ensure that the Assad regime does not remain deaf to the demands of the international community,” a European diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Veto-wielding council members Russia and China, as well as Brazil, India and South Africa, have opposed the European and US push for sanctions.