The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said At least 24 people were killed and dozens were injured by security forces as anti-government protesters took to the streets in various Syrian cities overnight.
The military crackdown has failed to silence a pro-democracy movement that has now lasted more than 100 days. The Syrian opposition says at least 1,400 people have been killed in the continuing government crackdown.
As reports of bloody clashes between the Syrian military and civilians continue, the U.N. Security Council will meet to discuss the Syrian conflict.
Diplomats said, on Monday, the four European members of the Security Council -- Britain, France, Germany and Portugal -- revived a draft U.N. resolution that would likely condemn al-Assad's regime.
Ambassadors from other nations, including China and Russia, have previously argued that U.N. action would risk further destabilizing the Middle Eastern country. It was not immediately clear whether they would support such a resolution.
Anti-government protesters have taken to the streets for months to demand an end to President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Activists blame the deaths of demonstrators on security forces, but the government has consistently attributed the violence to "armed groups."
The Syrian regime blames foreign conspirators and thugs for the unrest, but the protesters deny any foreign influence in their movement, during which they say authorities also have detained 10,000 people.