Day of mourning in Syria's Homs

At least 16 people died on Tuesday, an activist group saidThere were no reports of attacks on mourners WednesdayTensions have intensified in Homs lately

(CNN) -- The restive Syrian city of Homs was in a state of mourning on Wednesday, as citizens flocked to funerals for people slain in the streets the day before, an activist told CNN.

But security forces didn't assault mourners as they had on Tuesday, the activist said.

Tension and violence between security forces and demonstrators have plagued the western Syrian city for days.

Activists told CNN that a Tuesday funeral procession for slain protesters had been attacked by security. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria said at least 16 people were killed and 33 were injured on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the activist said, security forces made arrests and raids after the funeral processions ended. Videos surfacing on the Internet showed mourners marching in the streets.

CNN could not independently verify the information.

This unrest in Syria began in mid-March after teens were arrested for writing anti-government graffiti in the southern city of Daraa, according to Amnesty International.

As the clashes intensified, demonstrators changed their demands, from calls for freedom and an end to abuses by the security forces to calls for the regime's overthrow.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for "Syrian authorities to stop repression immediately" and said "all sides should refrain from using violence." He said mass arrests should be halted and President Bashar al-Assad should respond to citizens' grievances.

He repeated the need "for a credible and inclusive dialogue, which should be carried out without delay and be part of a broad and genuine reform effort."

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