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Syrian army returns to Damascus suburbs Syrian army returns to Damascus suburbs
(40 minutes later)
The Syrian army has regained control of some Damascus suburbs recently held by rebel forces, reports say.The Syrian army has regained control of some Damascus suburbs recently held by rebel forces, reports say.
Huge deployments of troops and tanks were used, and the suburb of Saqba is still under bombardment, activists say.Huge deployments of troops and tanks were used, and the suburb of Saqba is still under bombardment, activists say.
Opposition groups say six people have been killed in the city, with another 13 dead across the country.Opposition groups say six people have been killed in the city, with another 13 dead across the country.
French officials said Foreign Minister Alan Juppe will travel to New York on Tuesday to press the UN Security Council to take action. French Foreign Minister Alan Juppe is due to travel to New York on Tuesday to press the UN Security Council to take action.
Correspondents say the suspension of the Arab League observer mission, combined with the upsurge of violence, means the focus is now on the UN body to pass a tough resolution. The Arab League suspended its observer mission on Saturday amid the upsurge of violence.
Correspondents say the league's decision has put the focus back on the UN body to pass a tough resolution.
Defiance continuesDefiance continues
At least 26 people were reportedly killed this weekend around Damascus in what activists say is the fiercest fighting around the capital during the 10 month-uprising.At least 26 people were reportedly killed this weekend around Damascus in what activists say is the fiercest fighting around the capital during the 10 month-uprising.
About 60 people were killed across the country on Sunday - a day after the Arab League suspended its month-old monitoring mission.
Meanwhile more than 50 military funerals were held over the weekend, for members of the security forces killed as armed attacks on them are stepped up.
The BBC and other international media are severely restricted inside Syria and none of the reports have been independently confirmed.
If the Arab League observers had inhibited Syrian government forces from attacking residential areas, any such constraints now seem to be thrown to the winds.If the Arab League observers had inhibited Syrian government forces from attacking residential areas, any such constraints now seem to be thrown to the winds.
The government actions reported by activists in the eastern suburbs of Damascus and in Rankous, just to the north of the capital, reinforce the sharp escalation cited by the league as grounds for suspending its observer mission.The government actions reported by activists in the eastern suburbs of Damascus and in Rankous, just to the north of the capital, reinforce the sharp escalation cited by the league as grounds for suspending its observer mission.
The upsurge coincided with the renewal of the observers' mandate for a second month, causing the Syrian government to express surprise and regret when it was called off.The upsurge coincided with the renewal of the observers' mandate for a second month, causing the Syrian government to express surprise and regret when it was called off.
It blames the escalation on "armed terrorist groups" encouraged by some Arab states trying to increase the pressure for action by the UN Security Council.It blames the escalation on "armed terrorist groups" encouraged by some Arab states trying to increase the pressure for action by the UN Security Council.
But the league blamed the regime for pursuing the "security option" and breaking commitments it made to halt violence. That is the line it will put to the Security Council on Tuesday.But the league blamed the regime for pursuing the "security option" and breaking commitments it made to halt violence. That is the line it will put to the Security Council on Tuesday.
About 60 people were killed across the country on Sunday - a day after the Arab League suspended its month-old monitoring mission.
Meanwhile more than 50 military funerals were held over the weekend, for members of the security forces killed as armed attacks on them are stepped up.
The BBC and other international media are severely restricted inside Syria and none of the reports have been independently confirmed.
Reports say that on Sunday troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stormed the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, where large anti-government protests have taken place.Reports say that on Sunday troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stormed the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, where large anti-government protests have taken place.
One activist, Kamal, told Reuters news agency the rebel Free Syrian Army had made a tactical withdrawal.One activist, Kamal, told Reuters news agency the rebel Free Syrian Army had made a tactical withdrawal.
"Regime forces have re-occupied the suburbs and started making house-to-house arrests," he said."Regime forces have re-occupied the suburbs and started making house-to-house arrests," he said.
But the BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says such deployments have failed to stem defiance in other parts of Syria, and recent days have seen many people killed in Homs, Hama, Idlib, Deraa and elsewhere.But the BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says such deployments have failed to stem defiance in other parts of Syria, and recent days have seen many people killed in Homs, Hama, Idlib, Deraa and elsewhere.
The latest army offensive started on Saturday in suburbs where the Free Syrian Army had taken up positions - including Kfar Batna, Saqba, Jisreen, and Arbeen.The latest army offensive started on Saturday in suburbs where the Free Syrian Army had taken up positions - including Kfar Batna, Saqba, Jisreen, and Arbeen.
Activists said more than 2,000 troops and 50 tanks joined the operation on Sunday, barely 5km (three miles) from the city centre.Activists said more than 2,000 troops and 50 tanks joined the operation on Sunday, barely 5km (three miles) from the city centre.
"It's urban war. There are bodies in the street," said one activist, speaking from Kfar Batna."It's urban war. There are bodies in the street," said one activist, speaking from Kfar Batna.
On Monday, reports emerged suggesting security forces may have killed Free Syrian Army colonel Hussein Harmush, one of the first military officers to publicly declare his opposition to Mr Assad last year. On Monday, reports emerged suggesting security forces may have killed senior army defector Lt-Col Hussein Harmoush, one of the first military officers to publicly declare his opposition to Mr Assad last year.
However, the Free Syrian Army, many of whom are based in Turkey, said they could not confirm the death.However, the Free Syrian Army, many of whom are based in Turkey, said they could not confirm the death.
Focus on UNFocus on UN
Rami Abdul Rahman, head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said: "There are heavy clashes going on in all of the Damascus suburbs. Troops were able to enter some areas but are still facing stiff resistance in others." Russia's Foreign Ministry said it had invited Syrian officials and the opposition to meet for talks in Moscow, and that the Syrian authorities had accepted.
Earlier he described the fighting as "the most intense near the capital since the uprising began". But a senior member of the opposition Syrian National Council told Reuters it had not yet received any such invitation, and would turn down the offer in any case.
"The Syrian regime is trying to finish the uprising militarily now that the case is being taken to the United Nations."
Meanwhile, Syria's state news agency reported that a gas pipeline which runs from the coast to the centre of the country was blown up near Tal Kalakh, close to the border with Lebanon.Meanwhile, Syria's state news agency reported that a gas pipeline which runs from the coast to the centre of the country was blown up near Tal Kalakh, close to the border with Lebanon.
The news agency blamed "terrorists" for the attack, which was said to have taken place at dawn on Monday. The news agency blamed "terrorists" for the attack, the latest of several in recent months.
There have been several pipeline attacks in recent months, but it is not clear who is behind them.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe is to travel to New York on Tuesday to "to persuade the Security Council to assume its responsibilities faced with the Syrian regime's worsening crimes against humanity", said Bernard Valero, a spokesman for the ministry.French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe is to travel to New York on Tuesday to "to persuade the Security Council to assume its responsibilities faced with the Syrian regime's worsening crimes against humanity", said Bernard Valero, a spokesman for the ministry.
On Saturday the Arab League announced it was halting its observer mission for the time being, because of the ongoing violence. At least 5,400 have been killed since the unrest began, according to the UN.
In December the UN said more than 5,000 people had been killed since protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad first erupted last March.
Syrian officials say government troops are fighting "terrorist" groups and about 2,000 members of the security forces have been killed in the unrest.
Are you in Syria or the wider region? What is your reaction to the Arab League's decision to suspend its mission? You can send us your views using the form below.Are you in Syria or the wider region? What is your reaction to the Arab League's decision to suspend its mission? You can send us your views using the form below.