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Syrian crisis: Army renews assault on Homs Syria crisis: Russia's Sergei Lavrov meets Assad
(40 minutes later)
The Syrian army has resumed heavy shelling in the restive city of Homs as Russia's foreign minister is due in Damascus for talks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in Syria for talks with President Bashar al-Assad amid an upsurge in violence in the restive city of Homs.
Government forces have been pounding the city - a rebel stronghold - since last week. At least 95 people were killed on Monday alone, activists say. His visit comes after Russia and China vetoed a Western-backed UN resolution criticising the crackdown in Syria.
The BBC's Paul Wood, in Homs, says residents fear troops are planning to launch a ground assault. Government forces have been pounding the rebel stronghold of Homs since last week. At least 95 people died in the city on Monday alone, activists say.
The government has vowed to pursue the offensive until "order" is restored.The government has vowed to pursue the offensive until "order" is restored.
Our correspondent - one of the only foreign reporters in Homs - says the Syrian army started firing artillery at about 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT) on Tuesday. The BBC's Paul Wood - one of the only foreign reporters in Homs - says the Syrian army started firing artillery at about 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
Activist Mohammed al-Hassan told Reuters news agency that the bombardment was mostly concentrated on the Baba Amr district - as it was on Monday. He says residents fear troops are planning to launch a ground assault.
"There is no electricity and all communications with the neighbourhood has been cut," he added. Cut off
'Hysteria'
Also on Tuesday, Syria's interior ministry said operations against "terrorist groups" would continue until "security and order are restored" in Homs.
The Syrian government, which has been fighting an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's rule since March, says it is fighting foreign-backed armed gangs.
Thousands of former army soldiers have defected to the rebel side, forming the Free Syrian Army.
Russia, along with China, has faced international condemnation after vetoing a UN resolution that backed an Arab League peace plan for Syria.Russia, along with China, has faced international condemnation after vetoing a UN resolution that backed an Arab League peace plan for Syria.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, due to hold talks with Syrian leaders, said Western reaction to Moscow's veto had bordered on "hysteria". Mr Lavrov said Western reaction had bordered on "hysteria".
His office said he was heading to Damascus because Moscow sought "the swiftest stabilisation of the situation in Syria".His office said he was heading to Damascus because Moscow sought "the swiftest stabilisation of the situation in Syria".
US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland urged Mr Lavrov to "use this opportunity to make absolutely clear to the Assad regime how isolated it is and to encourage Assad and his people to make use of the Arab League plan and provide for a transition".US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland urged Mr Lavrov to "use this opportunity to make absolutely clear to the Assad regime how isolated it is and to encourage Assad and his people to make use of the Arab League plan and provide for a transition".
Russia is the main supplier of arms to Damascus. The Syrian port of Tartus is home to Russia's only Mediterranean naval base.Russia is the main supplier of arms to Damascus. The Syrian port of Tartus is home to Russia's only Mediterranean naval base.
Mass graves The Syrian government, which has been fighting an uprising against President al-Assad's rule since March, says it is fighting foreign-backed armed gangs.
Our correspondent says residents burying their dead in mass graves under the cover of darkness came under fire overnight. Thousands of former army soldiers have defected to the rebel side, forming the Free Syrian Army.
Unconfirmed reports said troops had been moved up to within 1km (0.6 miles) of the parts of the city under bombardment, increasing fears of a ground attack, he adds. Syria's interior ministry said operations against "terrorist groups" would continue until "security and order are restored" in Homs.
Homs Activist Mohammed al-Hassan told Reuters news agency that Tuesday's bombardment was mostly concentrated on the Baba Amr district.
"There is no electricity and all communications with the neighbourhood has been cut," he added.
'Licence to kill'
Meanwhile, the president's UK-born wife, Asma Assad, has expressed her support for her husband.Meanwhile, the president's UK-born wife, Asma Assad, has expressed her support for her husband.
An email sent to Britain's Times newspaper from her office said: "The president is the president of Syria, not a faction of Syrians, and the first lady supports him in that role."An email sent to Britain's Times newspaper from her office said: "The president is the president of Syria, not a faction of Syrians, and the first lady supports him in that role."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the escalating violence in Syria "totally unacceptable before humanity", his spokesman Martin Nesirky said.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the escalating violence in Syria "totally unacceptable before humanity", his spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
He urged "all concerned in Syria" and the international community to redouble efforts to try to stop the violence.He urged "all concerned in Syria" and the international community to redouble efforts to try to stop the violence.
The US said on Monday it had closed its embassy in Damascus and removed all remaining staff because of security concerns. German UN Ambassador Peter Wittig said supporters of an Arab League plan calling for President Assad to step down needed to explore ways forward.
German UN Ambassador Peter Wittig said supporters of the Arab League plan - which calls for President Assad to step down - needed to explore ways forward.
He said Berlin was proposing an international contact group that he described as "a broad-based coalition of friends of the Arab League and friends of Syria above all".He said Berlin was proposing an international contact group that he described as "a broad-based coalition of friends of the Arab League and friends of Syria above all".
"Our fears have come true," he said. "Assad used the situation once again as a licence to kill - that's the sad aftermath of the veto.""Our fears have come true," he said. "Assad used the situation once again as a licence to kill - that's the sad aftermath of the veto."
Human rights groups and activists say more than 7,000 people have been killed by Syrian security forces since the uprising began last March.Human rights groups and activists say more than 7,000 people have been killed by Syrian security forces since the uprising began last March.
The UN stopped estimating the death toll in Syria after it passed 5,400 in January, saying it was too difficult to confirm.The UN stopped estimating the death toll in Syria after it passed 5,400 in January, saying it was too difficult to confirm.
President Assad's government says at least 2,000 members of the security forces have been killed.President Assad's government says at least 2,000 members of the security forces have been killed.
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