Russia on Tuesday reaffirmed its call for an end to violence and the launch of deep-rooted political reforms in Syria, during a phone call between the two countries' foreign ministers.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem that Moscow wanted to see the launch of "a broad Syrian dialogue" that could help the country find its own way out of the crisis, a Russian statement said.

The Syrian regime's promises of democratic reforms lack any credibility as long as a violent crackdown on protests in the country continues, Italy's foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.

"Only an immediate end to violence by Syrian authorities and the start of peaceful dialogue with the opposition and civil society can lend coherence to announcements of reform initiatives or future elections," it said.

EU nations are eyeing new sanctions against Syrian individuals and businesses linked to the ongoing clampdown on dissent by President Bashar al-Assad's regime, EU diplomats said Monday.

The sources, who asked not to be identified, said the European Union was looking at adding to a list of 38 people and businesses already targeted by a an asset freeze and visa ban.

Kuwait and Bahrain on Monday decided to recall their ambassadors from Damascus, increasing the regional isolation of President Bashar al-Assad, a day after Saudi Arabia took the same step.

"We have decided to recall our ambassador from Syria for consultations," Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed al-Sabah told reporters after meeting a parliamentary committee.

At least 109 people were killed on Thursday in and around the Syrian flashpoint protest city of Hama, CNN quoted a global activist group as saying.

"The brutality continues in Hama on the fourth day of Ramadan. Communication with the city and surrounding area is very difficult as the electricity supply has been cut off," the Avaaz non-governmental organization said.

The United States warned Thursday that President Bashar al-Assad had put Syria and the Middle East on a "very dangerous path," again toughening rhetoric on a crackdown by Damascus.

Washington appears to be moving towards a first direct call for Assad to go, a step it has so far resisted, and is preparing a new round of sanctions against his regime after an escalation of violence in the revolt hub of Hama.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Thursday dubbed Syria's multi-party reform offer "a step in the right direction" but on condition it be put into effect.

"We are still waiting for previously announced reforms to be implemented," Ashton said in a statement issued after President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree allowing opposition political parties.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday called the situation in Syria "dramatic" and expressed "enormous concern" over the deadly violence in the country.

"Unfortunately, people die there in large numbers. This arouses enormous concern from us," the Russian leader said in an interview given to Russian media in the southern resort Sochi.

The United States Wednesday said it had no interest in seeing Syria's President Bashar al-Assad survive simply to preserve regional "stability," hardening its line on what it termed a "grotesque" crackdown on dissent.

Some analysts have speculated that Washington has been wary of directly calling for Assad to quit because of anxiety that security chaos, civil war and a Middle East power vacuum might follow the demise of his regime.

The United Nations condemned on Wednesday the Syrian government's deadly crackdown on protests and called for those responsible to be held "accountable," as tanks stormed the protest hub of Hama.

A Security Council statement agreed after weeks of often-acrimonious talks said the body "condemns the widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities."