The move is part of a peace plan initiated by the Arab League (AL) to end months of bloodshed.

The Qatari-based al-Jazeera TV quoted an activists group, Local Coordination Committees, as saying that at least 19 people were killed on November 3 during army operations in Bab-Amro area in Homs.

The unrest-torn city has witnessed a flare-up of violence since November 1 ahead of the AL ministerial committee's scheduled meeting with a Syrian delegation to discuss ways of putting in force the AL plan to defuse tension in the country.

Syria-news website reported that a total of 72 people were killed over the past 24 hours in Homs by masked gunmen who targeted passing cars and civilians.

The discrepancy couldn't be resolved as journalists are banned of independently heading to restive areas.

Earlier in the day, the private al-Watan newspaper said more than 24 people were killed in Homs on Wednesday, including 13 army personnel.

According to the report, the National Hospital in Homs received 18 mutilated bodies along with tens of wounded, some in a critical condition. Al-Ahli Specialist Hospital also received several bodies and more than 50 injured.