U.N. Says More Than 9,000 Dead in Syria Unrest

The United Nations on Tuesday increased its death toll estimate for the Syria unrest to more than 9,000, as a rights group announced that nearly 10,000 people were killed.

"Violence on the ground has continued unabated," Robert Serry, a U.N. Middle East peace envoy, told the U.N. Security Council.

"Credible estimates put the probable death toll since the beginning of the uprising one year ago to more than 9,000. It is urgent to stop the fighting and prevent a further violent escalation of the conflict," Serry added.

The new U.N. toll was given as U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan announced that President Bashar al-Assad has accepted his six-point peace plan which includes a commitment to end all violence.

Rights activists reported new killings in Syria on Tuesday however. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday that more than 9,700 people have been killed since the uprising against Assad started.

A total 9,734 people have died, including 7,056 civilians, the Britain-based group said.

It said the remaining casualties were soldiers and rebel troops.

The death toll in the strife-torn country rises daily as regime forces press a crackdown against the uprising, which began as a popular revolt but has transformed into an insurgency.