The latest group to step down were members from the Houran region, which covers the flashpoint town of Daraa in the south of the country. Earlier 30 members resigned from the restive city of Banias in northwest Syria.

"The security services have demolished the values with which grew up. We denounce and condemn everything that has taken place and announce with regret our resignation from the party," they said in a signed statement.

"Practices of the security services against our unarmed citizens ... are against all human values and the slogans of the party," they wrote.

The Baath party signatories from the Banias region condemned "the house raids and the indiscriminate use of live fire against people, homes, mosques and churches."