UN: Syria death toll passes 7,500.

More than 7,500 people have died in Syria since security forces launched a crackdown on dissent last March, a senior United Nations official says, BBC reports.

Under-Secretary-General for political affairs Lynn Pascoe said there were "credible reports" the toll often exceeded 100 civilian deaths per day.

Syrian forces pounded residential areas in Homs and elsewhere, on Tuesday, killing scores.

Meanwhile, a UK journalist hurt in Homs last week, was smuggled to safety.

The UN's new estimate of the number of deaths came at a meeting of the UN Security Council.

"There are credible reports that the death toll now often exceeds 100 civilians a day, including many women and children," said Lynn Pascoe.

"The total killed so far is certainly well over 7,500 people."

The Syrian government says at least 1,345 members of the security forces have been killed combating what it calls "armed gangs and terrorists", and puts the number of civilians killed at 2,493.