As Arab and Western countries exert power at the UN Security Council over the Syrian crisis, observers believe that the next few days are crucial for the country which has lived under the brunt of violence for more than 10 months.

The Security Council's meeting on Tuesday, attended by Arab League (AL) chief Nabil al-Arabi, discussed the recent AL plan calling on the Syrian president to step down, as well as a resolution urging peace efforts in the country.

As the violence escalates in Syria, the Security Council is regarded as the last political means at disposal to resolve the crisis.

Unofficial reports put the Syrian death toll at around 7000, while the government estimates at least 3,000 deaths of military and security personnel have taken place since the start of the crisis last march.

The Syrian army stepped up its crackdown in the central area and Damascus' suburbs in the past few days. The central province of Homs witnesses most of the military operations. The Baba Amro area in Homs, where the army and defectors are fiercely battling, has seen numerous deaths and injuries.

At Tuesday's meeting at the Security Council, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that the violence in Syria threatens to spiral out of control and called on President Bashar al-Assad, who she believes is pushing Syria to a sectarian war, to step down and transfer power to his deputy.

The European Union followed Washington's suits by imploring the Security Council to bear its responsibilities regarding the Syrian crisis.

Among the Arab countries, Qatar pleaded for an international interference in the crisis, a stance viewed by observers as an attempt by the kingdom to seek a firm foothold in the Arab world.

The Gulf country warned the continuation of the status quo in Syria jeopardizes the entire region's security and called for actions to impose economic pressure on it.

The AL chief al-Arabi, while urged a swift and decisive solution to end the violence, showed some leniency in calling on the Syrian opposition to agree to a dialogue with the government.

Al-Arabi stressed that the AL hopes to see a national reconciliation through a political process to achieve Syrians' aspiration for freedom and democracy.

Russia, on the other hand, voiced entirely different positions and expressed its support to the reforms in Syria and a diplomatic solution within the AL frame.

Russia also went on to warn that it would veto any " inappropriate" UN resolution against Syria.

Earlier, Russia extended its goodwill and offered to host a national dialogue for Syria but the move was rejected by the opposition as an "attempt to salvage the regime."

In the coming few days, the Syrian government has a great deal at stake in the bickering and compromise of the powers at play at the UN Security Council. Its fate hinges on whether the AL plan would win the world body's support.