Death toll in Syrian unrest passes 3,000: U.N.

GENEVA -- The U.N. human rights office has raised its tally of deaths in Syria's seven months unrest to more than 3,000.

And the office's top official is warning that Syria's "ruthless repression" of anti-government protesters could drive the country into "full-blown civil war."

A spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights says the death toll includes at least 187 children.

The spokesman, Rupert Colville, said Friday more than 100 people had been killed in the last 10 days alone.

He says hundreds more have been arrested, detained, tortured and disappeared. Families of anti-government protesters inside and outside the country have also been targeted for harassment.

Since mid-March, Bashar Assad's regime in Syria has cracked down on protesters leading movements similar to those that have ousted other Arab autocrats this year.

The U.N.'s top human rights official, Navi Pillay, warned Friday that Syria's "ruthless repression" of anti-government protesters could drive the country into "full-blown civil war," Reuters reports.

"The onus is on all members of the international community to take protective action in a collective manner, before the continual ruthless repression and killings drive the country into a full-blown civil war," Pillay said.