Syrian troops have shot dead nine people as President Bashar Assad was quoted as telling the UN chief that military operations in his country have ended.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Coordination Committees, a group that documents anti-regime protests, said the latest shooting took place in the city of Homs.

The groups said most of the shooting occurred late yesterday, after many Muslims attended special prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

In Washington, US officials said the Obama administration is ready to make an explicit call for Assad to leave power.

Assad has unleashed tanks and ground troops in rebellious areas, escalating the assault dramatically since Ramadan started this month and killing hundreds.

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