- More than 300 people have been killed since Sunday, opposition groups say
- The Syrian regime touts renewed support from Iran and praises China and Russia
- Divided opposition members try to unify in Cairo
- Many dissidents agree that al-Assad can have no role in a transitional government
(CNN) -- Residents across Syria woke up to a particularly bloody day Wednesday, when at least 17 people -- including six children -- were killed in early morning violence, opposition activists said.
In a country where scores of daily killings have become a tragic way of life, this week's violence has been especially lethal. More than 300 people have been killed in the first half of this week, according to tallies by opposition groups.
The surge comes despite a new plan by world leaders to stop the carnage and a push by opposition members to unite their efforts against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
On Tuesday, leaders of various opposition groups met for a second day in Cairo to devise a plan for a new Syria if al-Assad were to fall. But the opposition remained splintered.
One thing groups did agree on is that al-Assad can have no role in a transitional government.
"He is the enemy of our people. He should leave before any step in the transitional period of free Syria," said Habib Haddad, a former Syrian information minister.
That sentiment comes on the heels of a plan laid out by global diplomats in Geneva over the weekend that called for a transitional government.
According to the plan, backed by Russia and China as well as the West, the transitional government "could include members of the present government and the opposition and other groups and shall be formed on the basis of mutual consent."
Claims of atrocities committed by the regime were highlighted Tuesday in a scathing report published by Human Rights Watch.
The group, citing interviews with more than 200 former prisoners and security officers who defected, identified 27 detention centers across Syria where the Syrian regime carried out "a state policy of torture" to crush dissent.
The carnage has spiked in recent days, with at least 109 people killed Sunday, 114 people on Monday and 71 on Tuesday, opposition activists said.
Wednesday's fatal violence took place across Syria, from Daraa in the south to Deir Ezzor in the east to Hama in west, said the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria.
CNN cannot independently confirm the reports of casualties or violence because Syria restricts access by international journalists.
The Syrian government, meanwhile, touted renewed support from Iran.
Saeed Jalili, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, "stressed Iran's support to Syria against the ferocious regional and international conspiracy," the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported Wednesday.
Jalili met with Syrian People's Assembly Speaker Mohammad Jihad al-Laham in Tehran, SANA said.
"Al-Laham hailed the role of China, Russia and Iran ... their support of what is right, their respect of other countries' sovereignty and independence, and the fact that they never intervene in countries' internal affairs," SANA said.
Well over 14,000 people -- mostly civilians -- have been slaughtered since the Syrian uprising began 16 months ago, according to opposition groups. The United Nations has put the death toll at more than 10,000.
Opposition activists and many world leaders say government forces are slaughtering en masse in an attempt to wipe out dissidents. Al-Assad's family has ruled Syria for more than 40 years.
But the Syrian regime consistently maintains it is fighting against "armed terrorist groups."
Analysts say regime forces and rebel fighters who rose up against the crackdown are locked in bloody stalemate, with neither side willing to give up their arms.
But Al-Assad's forces are showing signs of splintering, with reports of defections growing.
At least 258 people, including soldiers, officers and their relatives fled Monday, said Col. Malek Kurdi, deputy commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army. He said it was not certain how many were soldiers and how many were relatives.
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