Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces on Saturday stormed Shaba on the outskirts of the capital Damascus, reported the opposition, raising fears that the government and its paramilitary militia will carry out summary executions.
The incursion followed artillery shelling of the town, in which at least one civilian died and dozens were wounded, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, dpa reported.
Fierce fighting entered its sixth day in Damascus between al-Assad's forces and opposition rebels, who claimed responsibility for a bombing Wednesday that killed four members of the president's inner circle.
The rebel Free Syrian Army this week launched what it called a "Damascus volcano" offensive to gain control of the city.
Elsewhere in Syria, clashes were reported Saturday between the military and rebels in the town of al-Qusair in the central province of Homs, a key opposition stronghold.
The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously Friday to extend an observers' mission by a final 30 days.
The team's mandate was extended with the understanding that the observers would assist a transition in Damascus or pull out if no political solution is found to end the 17-month conflict.
The 300-strong mission was dispatched to Syria in April to monitor a UN-brokered truce, but suspended its activities last month because of what its chief called "unprecedented levels" of violence.