A United Nations official has said that Syrian forces have killed more than 7,500 civilians since a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad began.
"There are credible reports that the death toll now often exceeds 100 civilians a day, including many women and children," UN Under-Secretary-General for political affairs Lynn Pascoe told the UN Security Council.
"The total killed so far is certainly well over 7,500 people."
The Syrian military again bombarded opposition strongholds, killing at least 25 people, Syrian activists said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 16 people were killed in Homs today, a day after 84 were killed in the city, out of an overall death toll of 122 civilians across Syria.
The reports could not be independently confirmed. Syrian authorities tightly restrict media access to the country.
Evacuations and aid
Wounded British journalist Paul Conroy, of the Sunday Times has been smuggled out of Homs and is safe in Lebanon.
However there is confusion as to the whereabouts of French journalist Edith Bouvier. It had been reported earlier that Ms Bouvier was also smuggled to safety.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had delivered food and other supplies to the Syrian cities of Homs and Idlib but that better security was needed before the aid could be distributed to needy civilians.
It was vital that both Syrian authorities and opposition groups agree to implement a daily humanitarian ceasefire to allow in life-saving aid, the independent agency said.
Syrian ambassador storms out
Elsewhere, Syria's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva stormed out of the United Nations Human Rights Council today after angrily demanding that countries stop "inciting sectarianism and providing arms" to opposition forces in the country.
Faysal Khabbaz Hamoui said sanctions were preventing Damascus from buying medicines and fuel and then abruptly left the Geneva forum's emergency debate called at the request of Gulf countries and Turkey, and backed by the West.
The Human Rights Council, meeting in Geneva, hopes to prompt Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end the killings by issuing a resolution condemning widespread and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities.
Elsewhere Secretary of State Clinton told the US Senate it could be argued that President Assad is a war criminal, but said using such labels "limits options to persuade leaders to step down from power".
