Amman, Jordan - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad faced dissent within government ranks with more than 200 members of his Baath Party resigning and signs of discontent within the army over the authorities' response to anti-government protests in the streets.

Two hundred party members from Deraa province and surrounding regions resigned on Wednesday after the government sent tanks into the city of Deraa. At least 35 civilians were killed in the attack, rights groups claimed.

Unnamed diplomats said signs were also emerging of discontent within the army where the majority of troops are Sunni Muslims, but most officers belong to the same minority Alawite sect as Assad.

Assad sent the ultra-loyal Fourth Mechanized Division, commanded by his brother Maher, into Deraa on Monday. Reports from opposition figures and Deraa residents, which could not be confirmed, said that several soldiers from another unit had refused to fire on civilians.

"The largest funerals in Syria so far have been for soldiers who have refused to obey orders to shoot protesters and were summarily executed on the spot," said an unnamed senior diplomat.

Another unnamed diplomat said there was at least one instance this month of soldiers confronting secret police to stop them shooting at protesters.

Earlier on Wednesday a stormy UN Security Council meeting on Syria, coming only days after the 15-nation body failed to agree a statement on Yemen, highlighted a growing divide on how to handle the uprisings in the Middle East and Arab world.

France called for "strong measures" against Syria if al-Assad rejects appeals to end violence. The US said Assad must "change course now" and end the use of tanks and guns.

China's envoy Li Baodong called for "constructive help" for Syria.

Turbulence in the Arab countries hit by uprisings has "dealt a big blow to the stability in the whole region", he said.

"If these issues are not addressed appropriately they will jeopardize peace and stability in other regions".

China always advocates that relevant parties in Syria should settle disputes through political dialogue and maintain stability and order in the country, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular news conference on Thursday.

China Daily-Reuters-AFP