Syrian opposition groups reported fresh violence in several areas of Syria on Friday, less than a week before a U.N.-backed cease-fire is to take effect.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told VOA that government troops battled rebel forces in several suburbs of Damascus. It said three members of the military were killed. Clashes also erupted in the central Homs region.

Opponents of President Bashar al-Assad staged protests in several regions of Syria.

On Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that Syria's conflict was escalating and attacks by government forces on civilian areas show no signs of slowing, despite assurances that Damascus has begun withdrawing its troops from major cities.

Mr. Ban told the General Assembly that Syrian “cities, towns and villages had been turned into war zones.” He urged President Assad “to show leadership and vision” and keep his pledge to end violence by April 10.

Mr. Assad agreed to U.N.-backed peace plan on March 25, but international peace envoy Kofi Annan said in a video from Geneva that the Syrian government has made little progress on ending its year-long crackdown on dissent.

Syrian officials blame much of the violence on “terrorists” they say are supported by “Arab and Western countries.” The state-run SANA news agency said Friday that terrorist acts increased after Damascus reached an agreement on Mr. Annan's peace plan.

Growing numbers of Syrians fleeing violence have poured into neighboring Turkey. Turkish officials say more than 2,800 Syrian refugees have arrived in the past two days.

Newly arrived refugee Abul Vafa told Reuters on Friday that he felt like he had escaped from a war zone.

“We have escaped death because there was a war going on in my village. My children are terrified and they are witnesses of this war.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called U.N. chief Ban on Friday to express concern about the growing tide of refugees.

The Syrian government has promised to stop all military action by April 10. Under the terms of the Security Council statement passed Thursday, the opposition is supposed to lay down its arms within 48 hours after the government fulfills its promise.

A small technical team arrived in Damascus Thursday to begin laying the groundwork for a potential U.N. monitoring mission. The U.N. is eventually looking to send a team of 200-250 unarmed observers to monitor a cease-fire in Syria.

The United Nations says more than 9,000 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising against Mr. Assad began 13 months ago.