Activists say at least 11 people were killed in Syria on Friday after security forces opened fire on protesters and launched new raids across the country.

The unrest comes as Damascus is facing increased international pressure to end its crackdown on dissent.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe on Friday called for stronger sanctions and a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Damascus. He told the French news agency “it is now too late” for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government to change.

Juppe spoke after meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul, who warned Syria could descend into civil war as fighting between Syrian army defectors and government forces intensifies.

In Syria, anti-government protesters who took to the streets Friday urged foreign countries to expel their Syrian ambassadors.

Their calls have come on the heels of an Arab League vote to suspend Syria's membership. Syria's state-run SANA news agency says thousands of demonstrators rallied in Damascus on Friday to express their “rejection” of the league's decision.

The Arab League has also given Syria an ultimatum to end the bloodshed and allow in teams of observers to monitor compliance. On Friday, the group said Syria had submitted unspecified amendments to the proposal for outside monitors.

The U.N. says at least 3,500 people have been killed in connection with the Syrian revolt since March. Syria has blamed much of the violence on foreign-backed terrorists and religious extremists.