On Friday, the 22-member league sharpened its criticism of Syria after rights activists said Syrian security forces had shot and killed dozens of anti-government protesters as part of a widening crackdown on dissent.

The United Nations says the number of people killed in the seven-month-old uprising has surpassed 3,000. The Syrian government says terrorists have killed hundreds of security personnel during that period.

Meanwhile, thousands of supporters of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad gathered in the northern city of Raqqa to rally for the government. It appeared to be the latest of several state-organized rallies in support of Mr. Assad.