Syrian tanks pushed into a rebel stronghold in the battered city of Homs on Thursday and UN investigators accused President Bashar al-Assad's government of crimes against humanity. The plight of Homs and other embattled towns will dominate "Friends of Syria" talks in Tunis on Friday involving the United States, European and Arab countries, Turkey and other nations demanding that Assad halt the bloodshed and relinquish power.
Russia and China, which have jointly vetoed two UN Security Council resolutions on Syria, say they will stay away. The meeting will call on Syria to implement an immediate cease-fire to give aid groups access to areas worst hit by the violence, according to a draft declaration obtained by Reuters.
The draft also "recognised the Syrian National Council as a legitimate representative of Syrians seeking peaceful democratic change", a phrase which appeared to fall short of full endorsement of the most prominent group opposed to Assad. The exiled SNC is allied with the Free Syrian Army (FSA), made up of army deserters and insurgents who are resisting security forces that have sought to crush protests against Assad's 11-year rule, bolstered by his minority Alawite sect.
World outrage has swelled over the carnage in Syria, where thousands have been killed since the anti-Assad uprising flared in March, inspired by revolts against Arab autocrats elsewhere. Western diplomats said it had not yet been possible to extract the bodies of Marie Colvin, an American working for Britain's Sunday Times, and French photographer Remi Ochlik.
Two journalists wounded in the same attack - British photographer Paul Conroy and French reporter Edith Bouvier, along with French photographer William Daniels, who was unhurt - were also awaiting evacuation from the Baba Amro neighbourhood. US officials said the Friends of Syria group would challenge Assad to provide humanitarian access within days to civilians embroiled in the intensifying conflict.
The army is blocking medical supplies to parts of Homs and electricity is cut off 15 hours a day, activists say. Hospitals, schools, shops and government offices are closed. The International Committee of the Red Cross has been trying to get the government and rebel forces to agree daily two-hour cease-fires. Access for aid workers will also be the focus of a planned visit to Syria by UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos.
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