France meanwhile pressed the UN Security Council to adopt a statement backing international envoy Kofi Annan's mission to end the bloodshed that has cost an estimated 9,100 lives in the past year.

President Bashar al-Assad's security forces launched attacks in several regions, opposition activists said.

Pre-dawn fighting in a heavily guarded area of Damascus, the capital's fiercest since the revolt against Assad's regime erupted, came as residents still reeled from deadly weekend bombings.

At least three rebels and a member of the security forces were killed in the upscale western neighbourhood of Mazzeh, state television and monitors said.