A Syrian human rights group told Reuters that at least 62 people have been killed across Syria on Friday — including 15 villagers who tried to approach the besieged southern city of Daraa.

Thousands of people took to the streets across the country Friday, calling for President Bashar Assad's downfall and pledging support for the citizens of Daraa.

U.S. sanctions, UN probe

The Obama administration will hit three top Syrian officials, Syria's intelligence agency and Iran's Revolutionary Guard with sanctions over their brutal crackdown on pro-reform demonstrators in Syria, White House officials said.

The penalties to be announced Friday will freeze any assets that the officials, Syria's General Intelligence Directorate and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps may have in U.S. jurisdictions and also bar Americans from doing business with them.

The officials would not name the individuals to be penalized pending the formal release of Obama's executive order. However, they said Syrian President Bashar Assad is not among those included in the annex.

Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council has approved an investigation of Syria's bloody crackdown on its uprising and demanded that the nation immediately release political prisoners and lift restrictions on journalists and the Internet.

Friday's action came during a special session of the 47-nation council on a vote of 26-9. Opposition among many Arab and African nations forced the U.S.-drafted resolution about the UN-led investigation to bewatered down to omit Syria's unopposed candidacy for the council.

Map of unrest

See map detailing unrest in Middle East.

Daraa is at the heart of the country's six-week uprising. The regime has unleashed the army, backed by tanks and snipers, to crush the protest movement.

A witness in Latakia said about 1,000 people turned out for an anti-government rally when plainclothes security agents with automatic rifles opened fire. He said he saw at least five people wounded. Like many witnesses contacted by The Associated Press, he asked that his name not be used for fear of reprisal.

Other demonstrations were reported in Banias and in the northeastern city of Qamishli. The government had warned against holding any demonstrations Friday. Syrian state television said the Interior Ministry has not approved any "march, demonstration or sit-in" and that such rallies seek only to harm Syria's security and stability.

A devastating picture was emerging from Daraa, which is largely sealed off, without electricity and telephones, as residents flee to neighboring countries.

At the Jordanian side of the Syrian border, several Daraa residents who had just crossed over said there is blood on the streets of the city.

"Gunfire is heard across the city all the time," one man said, asking that his name not be used for fear of retribution. "People are getting killed in the streets by snipers if they leave their homes."

An AP reporter at the border heard gunfire and saw smoke rising from different areas just across the frontier. Residents said the gunfire has been constant for three weeks.

Since the uprising in Syria began in mid-March, inspired by revolts across the Arab world, more than 450 people have been killed nationwide, activists say.

The Muslim Brotherhood urged Syrians to demonstrate Friday against Assad in the first time the outlawed group has openly encouraged the protests in Syria. The Brotherhood was crushed by Assad's father, Hafez, after staging an uprising against his regime in 1982.