DAMASCUS: World powers are racing against time to prevent all-out civil war in Syria, UN leader Ban Ki-moon warned, as a watchdog on Tuesday reported more killings of civilians by Syrian security forces.

Speaking ahead of a key UN Security Council meeting on Syria on Tuesday, Ban again condemned the “brutality” of President Bashar al-Assad's forces but said attacks by opposition groups have also “escalated.”

“We are in a race against time to prevent full-scale civil war -- death on a potentially massive scale,” Ban said. The UN already estimates that well over 9,000 people have died in the 14-month uprising against Assad while rights groups have put the number at more than 11,000.

“The government continues to assault its people,” the UN secretary-general told the Atlantic Council think-tank in Washington on Monday.

“Every day we see the most appalling images -- troops firing in city centers, innocent civilians dying, even children. Security forces are arresting and torturing people with great brutality.”The UN chief also criticised the Syrian government for holding parliamentary elections on Monday while violence is still raging and for failing to involve all parties.

At least 25 people were killed in violence across Syria as the vote was taking place and on Tuesday three more people were killed by regime forces, according to monitors.

“Only a comprehensive and inclusive political dialogue can lead to a genuine democratic future in Syria,” Ban said through his spokesman Martin Nesirky. “These elections are not taking place within that framework.

“Moreover, a democratic process cannot be successful while violence is still ongoing,” he added.

Washington also dismissed the vote as a sham.

“It's not really possible to hold credible elections in a climate where basic human rights are being denied to the citizens and the government is continuing to carry out daily assaults ... on its own citizens,” State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said.

“To hold a parliamentary election in that kind of atmosphere borders on ludicrous,” Toner told reporters.

Monday's vote, which was boycotted by the opposition, was called despite the country being in the grip of an uprising that began in March of last year.

A UN-backed truce that went into effect April 12 has failed to take hold fully and both regime forces and rebels have been accused of violating the ceasefire.

Pro-government media said turnout was high in the election that marked the first time Syria has held a vote since the adoption in February of a new constitution allowing for multi-party polls.

“Millions of Syrians defied terrorism and chose their representatives in parliament,” said the daily Al-Watan, which estimated voter turnout at 60 percent.

The ruling party's Al-Baath newspaper said the turnout attested to the popularity of the regime.

“Millions of Syrians sent a clear message: that the great majority of the people support the reforms undertaken by the president and want to push forth in building a modern and democratic Syria,” the newspaper said.

The vote, initially scheduled for last September, was postponed to May 7 after Assad announced the launch of a reform process backed by a referendum.

A total of 7,195 candidates registered to stand for the 250 seats, state news agency SANA said.

The opposition dismissed the vote as a ploy by the regime to buy time and dupe the international community into believing it is serious about reforms.

On the ground, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Tuesday that Assad's forces during the night swept through Al-Tamanaa village in Idlib province, firing shells and bursts of gunfire in which a man and a 50-year-old woman were killed.

The northwestern Idlib province, which borders Turkey, is a stronghold of the Free Syrian Army and a hotbed of opposition to President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Another civilian died by sniper fire in the central city of Homs, the Observatory said.