Syrian govt must allow free movement, access: US

"The Syrian government must allow free movement and free access; it must stop the arbitrary arrests, detentions, and torture of prisoners and must cease the violence and begin a serious political process," Clinton said on Wednesday. She said the political process must be done through concrete actions to demonstrate the government's responsiveness to the legitimate issues that have been raised by the Syrian people seeking substantial and lasting reform.

Clinton said she is particularly concerned about the situation in Homs, where multiple reports suggest violence and casualties among both civilians and government personnel. "It is difficult to independently confirm these accounts because journalists are not being allowed free access to many of these areas," she said, adding that US strongly condemns the ongoing violence committed against peaceful protesters by the Syrian government.

The US secretary of state said, "We have been consistent, ever since events of the last months have begun that we are calling for an end to violence, we're calling for peaceful protests, and a political process that can respond to the legitimate needs, interests, and aspirations of the people of the region."

She regretted the loss of life and extended condolences to the families and loved ones of all victims. "To reiterate what we said before, we continue to believe that actions speak louder than words," Clinton said.

Earlier, responding to the arrest of Syrian opposition figure Mahmud Issa, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the arrest calls into question the Syrian government's intentions with respect to real reforms and their desire to meet the demands of the people.

Meanwhile, Washington-based think tank Freedom House called for decisive international action to prevent further brutality by the Bashar al-Assad regime against Syrian people, including special sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council and Security Council passage of tough sanctions against the regime.

"The al-Assad regime continues to make empty gestures of reform, while it simultaneously mows down its own people," said David J Kramer, executive director of Freedom House.

Kramer said, "The international community can no longer sit idly by but instead must pursue serious measures to prevent further attacks on the Syrian people. The relative silence from the Arab League and the democratic community of nations concerning the atrocities being perpetuated against the Syrian people is deafening."

Syrian forces attacked protesters in the city of Homs on Wednesday, where thousands gathered in the central square to demand political reforms after a funeral service for the 12 people who were killed in Homs during Sunday's protests, Freedom House said. More than 200 people have been killed in Syria since the protests began, it said.

In recent weeks, President al-Assad has announced numerous political reforms that have fallen far short of protesters demands, the think tank said.

Freedom House said Syria is one of the world's most brutal regimes. Many of the estimated 2,000 to 2,500 political prisoners in Syria have never been tried.