Syrian opposition figures have wrapped up a two-day meeting in Turkey with a call for President Bashar al-Assad's immediate resignation.
The 300 delegates issued the call in a joint declaration as Syrian forces continued to pound the central town of Rastan. Activists say at least 15 people were killed Thursday in the government's shelling.
The opposition figures who gathered in Turkey say they are committed to do whatever is necessary to “bring down” Mr. Assad's regime and begin the process of holding new elections to end autocratic rule.
As they met in the Turkish town of Antalya, a small group of Syrian government supporters rallied nearby, vowing their allegiance to Mr. Assad.
Earlier, witnesses said a number of buildings in Rastan had been destroyed as the government continued its crackdown. On Wednesday, rights groups put the civilian death toll in that part of Syria at 41 or more, including two young girls.
Syrian activists say at least 25 children are among the more than 1,000 people killed, overall, during the uprising against President Assad.
Opposition organizers say that demonstrations they have called for Friday will honor the children killed in the uprising, among them a 13-year-old boy who activists say was tortured and killed by security forces – a charge denied by Syrian authorities.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the legitimacy of President Assad's government has “nearly run out.” However, she said the international community is not united enough on how to deal with Syria's crackdown on opposition protests.
Later, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the “window of opportunity” for Mr. Assad to lead a transition is closing. Toner also said the U.S. has had contacts with the Syrian opposition.
Separately, the U.N. secretary-general's special advisers on genocide prevention expressed “grave concern” over the loss of life in Syria. In a Thursday statement, they said they are “particularly alarmed” by the apparent attacks by security forces against unarmed civilians.