A senior Palestinian official described the military offensive in the city as "a crime against humanity," adding to Arab condemnation of President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on popular demonstrations calling for his overthrow.

After five months of unrest, Assad, from Syria's minority Alawite community, has broadened and intensified the military assault against main urban centers of protest since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on August 1.

The Local Coordination Committees said Assad's forces killed at least two people in Latakia, including 13-year-old Mohammad Shohan, hit by sniper fire in the Raml al-Filistini slum district, bringing the death toll to 36 in four days.

The activists' group said the death toll was probably higher, but roadblocks and disrupted communications made it hard to gather information on casualties in the stricken city.

Syria has expelled most independent media since the unrest began, making it difficult to verify reports from the country.