Syrian interim authorities have extended a curfew in several neighborhoods of the western province of Homs into late afternoon on Monday, following public unrest triggered by the deaths of a local man and his wife.

The initial 12-hour curfew was imposed on Sunday after the couple was found dead in their home in the town of Zaidel, south of Homs city, as reported by the Syrian Interior Ministry.

State media announced the extension, noting that the curfew now applies to ten neighborhoods and will remain in effect until 5 pm local time. Citing a statement from the Internal Security Command Administration in Homs, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the command is calling on all citizens to comply with the decision “to ensure the completion of ongoing field procedures.”

Provincial Internal Security Chief, Brig. Gen. Marhaf al-Nussan, stated on Sunday that the couple, who were reportedly from a Sunni Arab Bedouin tribe, “were found dead inside their home, and the wife’s body had been burned.” He further noted that "sectarian slogans were also found at the crime scene, suggesting an attempt to incite strife among the residents.”

The incident has drawn concern from international observers. Najat Rochdi, the UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, stated on Sunday that she was closely monitoring the "alarming developments." She urged “the utmost need for calm to be restored, for protection of civilians, for upholding the rule of law, and for accountability for any perpetrators of violence.”