TUNIS - Tunisia called on the Syrian government to "immediately cease hostilities and engage in an effective dialogue," the state-run press agency TAP reported, quoting a communique released by the ministry of foreign affairs on Thursday.

Last week demonstrators gathered in front of the Syrian embassy condemning the violence against civilians and on Tuesday hundreds of demonstrators marched in central Tunis, calling for an end to the "excessive" and "unjustified" violence in Syria.

Since the start of the turmoil on March 15 in Syria, more than 1,600 civilians are said to have been killed, along with 500 members of Syria's security forces, TAP said.