Dubai: The Syrian regime's rocket and shell bombardment of protest hubs has left another 79 civilians dead, activists said, as Washington closed its Damascus embassy and Britain recalled its ambassador.
The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) said the regime surrounded Homs with tanks on Monday ahead of "a major offensive" and warned of a "genocide" in the central Syrian city.
Wounded and in critical condition
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 42 civilians were killed in Homs alone in another day of blood-letting, and warned the death toll was likely to rise with many of the dozens of wounded in critical condition.
US embassy Damascus closes
Earlier it was reported that Syrian forces bombarded protest hubs with rockets and shells in a sustained assault Monday, killing 50 people as the US closed its embassy in Damascus in an escalation of pressure on President Bashar Al Assad to give up power.
Britain, meanwhile, recalled its ambassador to Syria for consultations in protest, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday
The army also launched an assault on the Zabadani area near Damascus with heavy tank shelling, killing at least three people
The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) said the regime had surrounded the central city of Homs with tanks ahead of "a major offensive" and urged speedy international action to prevent a new massacre.
"This is the most violent bombardment in recent days," said one activist in Syria who was in touch with Homs residents. Another activist said government troops were using multiple rocket launchers in the attack.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that at least 29 people were killed in Homs, and warned the toll could rise as many of the dozens wounded had critical injuries. The latest assault in Homs appeared to be widely targeted, with explosions in Khalidiya, Baba Amro, Bayada and Bab Dreib neighbourhoods, the activists said.
Sergei Lavrov, who was due in Damascus Tuesday, said condemnations of Moscow's veto at the UN Security Council had verged on "hysteria". US President Barack Obama made clear that, however hard western countries are prepared to lean on Al Assad diplomatically, they still have no intention of using force to topple him.
Robert Ford, the American ambassador, and 17 other US officials left Syria and were expected to travel back to the US. Ford informed Syrian authorities of the decision to leave earlier in the day, State Department officials said.
Saudi Arabia yesterday called for "critical measures" to be taken on Syria, warning of an impending "humanitarian disaster".
Meanwhile, Syrian army defectors announced they were organising a new "Higher Revolutionary Council" to supercede the Free Syrian Army (FSA) as the main armed force battling the regime. The new body would be commanded by General Ahmad Al Shaikh, the highest-ranking officer to defect to Turkey from government forces.
