Witnesses and activists say Syrian security forces have killed 10 people in the central city of Homs, as part of a continued crackdown against a more than four-month-long anti-government uprising.

The reported killings come days after sectarian fighting in the city between supporters and opponents of President Bashar al-Assad killed about 30 people.

Activists say those clashes began late Saturday when the dismembered bodies of three government supporters were returned to relatives in Homs. The activists and residents said loyalists responded by going on a rampage in predominantly Sunni areas of the city, torching and breaking into Sunni-owned shops.

The reports cannot be independently verified as Syria does not allow foreign media to report and travel freely.

Mr. Assad has sent Syrian security forces into towns and cities across the country to crush the uprising. Western powers have condemned the violent crackdown and imposed sanctions on Syrian leaders.