Twenty-seven people died Friday , one of them a child , the Local Coordination Committees of Syria activist group said . Sanctions considered by the Arab League would hurt the Syrian people -- state media . U.N. Committee Against Torture says it is deeply concerned by reports of torture of children . The United States and other Western nations have called for Assad to step down as part of a political transition in Syria, but he has refused. An Arab League deadline passes without a response from Syria , a diplomat says .
Sanctions considered by the Arab League would hurt the Syrian people -- state media . U.N. Committee Against Torture says it is deeply concerned by reports of torture of children . The United States and other Western nations have called for Assad to step down as part of a political transition in Syria, but he has refused. An Arab League deadline passes without a response from Syria , a diplomat says .