DAMASCUS - About 500 Syrians have been killed since anti-government protests erupted six weeks ago, Syrian Sawasya Organization for human rights said Thursday.

The organization said that the security forces used live bullets and gas tears and arrested at least 1,700 Syrians during the protests since March 15.

Western countries led by the United States have condemned the Syrian authorities' crackdown on citizens particularly in the southern town of Daraa, the hotbed of the country's protests.