( CNN ) -- Syrian opposition leaders have dubbed Friday 's planned demonstrations `` Friday of Saleh al-Ali , '' a prominent Alawite who commanded one of the first rebellions against the French mandate of Syria in the early part of the 20th century . Some opposition activists said they hope the name prompts the powerful minority ruling class , which is composed primarily of Alawites , to join the demonstrations demanding the fall of the regime . They also say the name sends the message that their demands are not directed against Alawites , but against the regime . Government opponents accuse the regime of identifying them as an Islamist movement , which they deny . The plans came as Syrian refugees continued Thursday to flee across the Turkish border to escape violence , as world powers amplified their outrage over the Damascus regime 's tough crackdown on peaceful demonstrators . The number of Syrian refugees now in Turkey stands at 8,904 , Turkish emergency officials said . Their report comes a day after Turkish government officials , including Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu , met with a special Syrian envoy to help stem the growing tide of refugees . Violence in the country and an offensive in and around the town of Jisr al-Shugur spurred thousands of people to make their way to the border region , and Turkish officials are worried that the crisis could deteriorate and destabilize the area . Davutoglu met Thursday with Syrian envoy Hasan Turkmani , who also sat down on Wednesday with Erdogan . The foreign minister briefed the news media in Ankara about the border crisis , the Turkish meeting with the Syrian envoy , and his visit with Syrian refugees on Wednesday in the Turkish city of Hatay . `` It was a meeting that was very comprehensive in which everything was openly discussed , based on mutual confidence and a joint understanding of sharing matters , '' Davutoglu said of the meeting with Turkmani and his delegation . Calling for a `` strong , stable and prosperous Syria , '' Davutoglu urged the timely development of a `` comprehensive reform process '' there and an end to the discord in Syria . `` I hope the positive scenario of introducing reforms and eliminating violence will take place , '' he said . `` I do n't even want to think about the other scenario . '' He said Turkey will provide humanitarian help to Syrians massed on the Syrian side of the border . Many Syrians who have fled their homes have n't crossed into Turkey and have instead lived near the border in grim conditions . `` Turkey will never refrain from any help for Syria , '' Davutoglu said . On Wednesday , the U.N. human rights office called for `` a thorough probe into the allegations of widespread abuses committed by Syrian authorities during their violent crackdown . '' `` The most egregious reports concern the use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians , including from snipers positioned on rooftops of public buildings , and the deployment of tanks in areas densely populated by civilians , '' according to a preliminary report prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights . `` As of mid-June , the number of those killed during such incidents is believed to have exceeded 1,100 persons , many of them unarmed civilians ; among them were women and children , '' it said , according to a U.N. statement . The human rights office said reports indicate that up to 10,000 people have been detained over three months , and security forces `` have perpetrated acts of torture and other cruel and inhuman treatment against detainees , resulting in death in custody in some cases . '' The report , which covers the period from March 15 to Wednesday , is based on data from U.N. agencies , human rights activists , a small number of victims and witnesses , and various other groups . The human rights office said it had to rely on these sources because it has n't been able to get its own staffers into Syria . There also have been reports that the rights of people to freedom `` of assembly , expression , and movement '' and to get food and health care have been violated . `` The material currently before the high commissioner is a matter of grave concern and reflects a dire human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic , '' the report said . `` The alleged breaches of the most fundamental rights on such a broad scale require thorough investigation and , with respect to the perpetrators , full accountability . '' Navi Pillay , the high commissioner for human rights , urged Syria `` to grant access to the country for the fact-finding mission established by the U.N. Human Rights Council . '' More than 50 nations issued a tough statement on human rights abuses in Syria at the U.N. Human Rights Council on Wednesday , and the U.S. State Department underscored the thrust of the message Thursday . `` The international community has been shocked by the horrific reports of torture and arbitrary arrests , and widespread use of violence against peaceful protesters , '' said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland . `` This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now . '' The State Department called on Syria to allow the high commissioner 's office to pursue its mission . CNN 's Yesim Comert and Kamal Ghattas contributed to this report .
NEW : Friday 's planned demonstrations are named for a former Alawite leader . More Syrian refugees trickle over the Turkish border . The U.N. human rights office calls for a `` thorough probe '' into abuses . The tumult in Syria began in mid-March .