Assad's call in Syria, U.S. says

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Despite minor shifts in the development of a solid Syrian opposition, it's up to Damascus to put an end to the crisis, the U.S. State Department said.

The United Nations puts the death toll since the uprising against Assad began in mid-March at close to 3,000 though Syrian rights groups say that figure is probably much higher.

Without outside intervention beyond economic sanctions, members of the Syrian opposition are resorting to violence "as an act of self-preservation," said Mark Toner, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department.

"It goes without saying that the longer the regime continues to repress, kill and jail these peaceful activists, the more likely that this peaceful movement's going to become violent," he said.

U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Syria Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed told the United Nations' humanitarian news agency IRIN that civil war in the country was "quite a possibility."

Toner said much of the Syrian opposition in Syria remains unarmed but noted that dynamic was changing.

"The responsibility lies with Assad and his regime that continue to use violence against innocent, peaceful demonstrators," he said during his regular press briefing. "And they (Assad's regime) need to step aside and allow a democratic transition. That call remains crystal clear: Assad needs to step down."

Syrian officials addressing the United Nations maintain their security forces have acted "to guarantee their (civilians) safety and stability."