U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday strongly condemned the "abhorrent violence" committed against protesters in Syria.

"I strongly condemn the abhorrent violence committed against peaceful protesters by the Syrian government today and over the past few weeks, I also condemn any use of violence by protesters," Obama said in a statement, calling on the Syrian authorities to " refrain from any further violence."

He said that the Syrian government has not addressed the " legitimate aspirations" of the Syrian people until now, noting that "violence and detention are not the answer to the grievances of the Syrian people."

Two people were killed and dozens injured on Friday in southern Syrian city of Daraa as protests erupted in different parts of the country.

Sixty people have been killed since protests broke out in Syria three weeks ago, according to official sources. Syrian authorities accused "foreign powers" of stirring up turmoil in the country.

"It is time for the Syrian government to stop repressing its citizens and to listen to the voices of the Syrian people calling for meaningful political and economic reforms," Obama said in his statement.