The Syrian government is continuing a crackdown on anti-government demonstrators with a military operation in the city of Daraa. On Wednesday, state forces reportedly took control of a local hospital and fired at anyone who approached. A human rights group in Daraa claims to have counted at least 35 deaths in the city and says electricity, water and telecommunications have been cut off. A second human rights group has collected the names of at least 453 civilians killed in Syria’s last six weeks of protests. Two hundred members of the nation’s ruling Baath party resigned on Wednesday in protest of the government assault. The developments come as an effort to condemn the Syrian crackdown has failed at the United Nations. A Security Council resolution to call for an international probe was scrapped after Russia, China and Lebanon voiced opposition. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said the Obama administration continues to consider “a range of options” to pressure Syria.

Susan Rice: “My government calls on President Assad to change course now and heed the calls of his own people. We also call upon the international community to respond to this brutal crackdown and to hold accountable those who are perpetrating these gross human rights violations. The United States has expressed its position to the Syrian government, and we’re considering a range of options, including targeted sanctions, to respond to the outrageous and ongoing use of violence against peaceful protesters.”

Syria’s U.N. ambassador, Bashar Ja’afari, meanwhile said there is no need for an international probe because his government is conducting its own investigation.

Bashar Ja’afari: “There is no need, according to us, there is no need for any U.N. investigation commission, with this regard, because our national body has already started looking into the matter, in its wide spectrum, and then later on we will see the outcomes of this investigation.”