France, March 9 -- Syria's interim president Ahmed Sharaa has called for national unity after security forces allegedly killed hundreds of civilians from the Alawite minority in recent days. France has condemned violence targeting "civilians because of their faith, and prisoners".

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) on Saturday reported that about 745 civilians were killed in "massacres" targeting Alawites on Friday and Saturday.

About 125 members of the Islamist-led government security forces and 148 fighters supporting toppled Syrian leader Bachar al-Assad have also been killed, according to the British-based war monitor, bringing the total number killed in the latest clashes to more than 1,000.

"We have to preserve nation...