08 february 2012, 16h15

Relentless government assault on Syrian city

Damaged buildings in Homs
(YouTube / AFP)

Syrian forces pressed a relentless assault on the protest city of Homs on Wednesday reportedly killing 50 civilians, hours after President Bashar al-Assad said he was committed to ending the bloodshed. The barrage of gunfire, mortars and shells was launched at dawn and continued all day. State television said a car bomb ripped through the central city, killing and wounding civilians as well as security officers. Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin insisted any outside intervention to stop the violence would have the destructive effect of "a bull in a china shop." But France and Britain dismissed Moscow's efforts to end nearly 11 months of bloodshed in Syria and urged Russia to use its influence with its Middle East ally to stop the violence. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said at least 69 people were killed across the country on Wednesday, including 50 in Homs alone.

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