Syrian forces bombarded districts of the city of Homs in their drive to crush a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad, ahead of a meeting of Arab foreign ministers due to discuss setting up a joint observer mission with the United Nations.
The Local Co-ordination Committees, an activists’ organisation, said that according to a tally from doctors at makeshift hospitals, at least 31 people were killed on Saturday in the latest attacks in a week-long government siege of Homs, Syria’s third largest city, which has been at the heart of an uprising that broke out 11 months ago.
“Tens of shabbiha (militiamen loyal to Assad) along with army snipers and two tanks have deployed at the citadel and they are bombarding Old Homs with mortar rounds and anti-aircraft guns,” activist Malek Mohammad said by satellite phone from the city, 140km north of Damascus.
Mohammed Hassan, another opposition campaigner in Homs, said by telephone a 55-year-old woman was among those killed by shellfire on the Baba Amro district.
