DAMASCUS, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Residents in towns south of Damascus reported a "cautious calm" on Thursday following two days of violent sectarian clashes that killed more than 70 people.

Troops from the Syrian defense and interior authorities regained control of the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, southwest of Damascus, on Wednesday evening. They then imposed a tight security cordon, sealed exits, and launched search operations in the area, local residents said.

Normalcy also began to return to parts of the town of Jaramana, southeast of Damascus, on Thursday, with roads reopened and traffic flowing, local residents added.

"This country belongs to all of us," said Fadi Dabeqseh, a resident of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya. "Now that the government has regained control, we ask first and foremost for safety."

"We are exhausted," said Suleiman Azmi al-Dasouqi, another resident from Ashrafiyat Sahnaya. "All we want is to live with hope and safety, without discrimination."

Violence erupted earlier this week in Jaramana, which is known for having a majority Druze and Christian population, after the circulation of an audio recording, which was attributed to a member of the Druze community and contained remarks considered offensive to Islam.

The unrest, initially centered in Jaramana, has since spread to neighboring areas southwest of Damascus, including predominantly Druze towns Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, where clashes between local Druze fighters and pro-government forces have intensified.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Thursday that the total number of people killed in the sectarian unrest has reached 73, after an ambush set by Syrian forces and allied paramilitary units killed nine Druze men earlier in the day, who were en route to support Druze fighters in Damascus.

In a statement issued Thursday, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, spiritual head of Syria's Druze community based in the predominantly Druze southern Suwayda province, urged international peacekeeping forces to act immediately against what he described as "ongoing crimes" against civilians amid the sectarian unrest.

Meanwhile, Syria's foreign affairs authorities said "some groups" are attempting to internationalize the unrest, through calling for foreign intervention, which is "illegitimate and unacceptable."

While the wider region remains on edge, fears run high that the sectarian tensions could further escalate if they are not properly addressed through political and community reconciliation.

Oxfam, a non-governmental organization, expressed deep concern over the escalating situation near Damascus and urged all parties to immediately end all acts of violence.

It is important to allow Syrians to live in peace and security during this critical transitional phase, Oxfam said, warning that if the situation continues to deteriorate, its ability to reach vulnerable communities in urgent need of support will diminish with each passing day.

Also on Thursday, Adam Abdelmoula, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Syria, expressed deep concern over the sectarian unrest's impact on civilians and humanitarian workers.

The escalating hostilities are worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation and increasing the suffering of vulnerable communities, Abdelmoula said, urging all parties to uphold international legal obligations, protect civilians and aid workers, and immediately halt violence.