The day after dozens were killed, in one of the deadliest single-day tolls since protests erupted in Syria more than seven months ago, the United Nations (UN) and the Arab League issued separate condemnations of the violence on Saturday.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced the international concern over the ongoing crisis, when he said, "The calls of the Syrian people for change must be answered with far-reaching reforms, not repression and violence."

Syria is clearly in a state of internal political crisis. According to the UN, at least 3,000 people have lost their lives in the country since the unrest began in mid-March.