The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told AFP on Monday that the death toll in Syria has reached 16,000. According to the Britain-based group more than 16,500 have been killed across the country since the beginning of the popular uprising against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

According to the Observatory, the 16,507 dead comprise 11,486 civilians, 4,151 government troops and 870 army defectors.

Less than two weeks ago the SOHR had estimated the number of fatalities at 14,400. Last week, Jean-Marie Guehenno, U.N.'s deputy envoy for Syria said the violence in Syria matched or exceeded levels from before the April ceasefire agreement.

According to activists, 51 people have been killed in Syria today, a number that cannot be independently verified.

The United Nations no longer publishes its own estimates of the death toll.