BEIRUT: At least 1,600 people were killed last week in Syria in the deadliest seven days since the uprising against President Bashar Assad began in March 2011, the UN children's fund UNICEF said Sunday.The watchdog Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said August marked the bloodiest month, with at least 5,440 people killed. According to the Observatory, at least 26,283 people have been killed in Syria since the revolt began in March last year -- 18,695 civilians, 1,079 defectors and 6,509 troops.
The toll does not account for thousands of people missing in Syria's jails, said Rami Abdel Rahman, the Observatory's director.
Last week, activists reported that between 300 and 600 people were killed in the Damascus suburb of Daraya during days of shelling.