At least three people are dead after Syrian forces renewed shelling in the Homs region on Saturday, the same day a weeklong government amnesty program took effect.

Activists say there is heavy artillery fire in regions of Homs that include the flashpoint Baba Amr district.

It is the third straight day that activists have said government forces entered Homs, in an apparent crackdown on dissent. The crackdown is taking place as Syria begins an amnesty program for citizens who have sold or possessed weapons.

Under the amnesty, citizens who have not committed murder will be released soon after they turn themselves in to police and hand over their weapons.

Shortly after the interior ministry announced the program Friday, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland advised Syrians not to turn themselves in to authorities.

On Saturday, the Syrian government condemned Nuland's comments as “irresponsible” and accused her of supporting “armed groups” who were carrying out acts of violence against civilians.

In a Friday briefing, Nuland also questioned the Syrian government's commitment to an Arab League plan brokered on Wednesday that calls for a halt to violence and talks between the government and the opposition.

France also voiced skepticism about Syria's commitment to the plan.

On Friday, activists said security forces killed at least 19 people as anti-government protesters rallied across the country. Activists blamed pro-government forces for at least 12 deaths in Homs on Thursday.

The United Nations says the number of people killed during the eight-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad has topped 3,000.

The Syrian government has blamed much of the unrest on “terrorists” and gunmen.