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Syria unrest: UK photographer Paul Conroy out of Homs | Syria unrest: UK photographer Paul Conroy out of Homs |
(40 minutes later) | |
British Sunday Times photographer Paul Conroy is no longer in Syria, having been smuggled out of the besieged city of Homs. | British Sunday Times photographer Paul Conroy is no longer in Syria, having been smuggled out of the besieged city of Homs. |
He was evacuated from the Baba Amr district on Monday with help from the Syrian opposition and Free Syria Army fighters, diplomats told the BBC. | He was evacuated from the Baba Amr district on Monday with help from the Syrian opposition and Free Syria Army fighters, diplomats told the BBC. |
The whereabouts of French journalist Edith Bouvier remain unclear. | |
Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. | |
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said she had received reports that "massive campaigns of arrests" by Syrian troops against rebels had deprived many civilians of food, water and medical supplies. | |
The Syrian representative reportedly walked out of the session after saying Damascus does not recognise its legitimacy. | |
The Western journalists were wounded in an attack on a makeshift media centre last Wednesday during a three-week offensive on rebel areas by Syrian government forces. | |
American Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin and French photojournalist Remi Ochlik were killed. | American Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin and French photojournalist Remi Ochlik were killed. |
The Syrian Red Crescent said earlier that it had reached Baba Amr on Monday, bringing out three Syrians, including a pregnant woman, her husband and an elderly female patient, but that it had been unable to bring out the Western journalists or the bodies of their colleagues. | The Syrian Red Crescent said earlier that it had reached Baba Amr on Monday, bringing out three Syrians, including a pregnant woman, her husband and an elderly female patient, but that it had been unable to bring out the Western journalists or the bodies of their colleagues. |
Reports on Tuesday said Homs had come under some of its heaviest bombardment yet, with the government sending in units of an elite armoured division into rebel-held districts. | |
'Warning shot' | 'Warning shot' |
Mr Conroy's father, Les, confirmed reports that his 47-year-old photographer son was safely out of Syria. | Mr Conroy's father, Les, confirmed reports that his 47-year-old photographer son was safely out of Syria. |
"We've just had word from Beirut. I've got it on the other phone in my other hand," he was quoted by the Press Association as saying. | "We've just had word from Beirut. I've got it on the other phone in my other hand," he was quoted by the Press Association as saying. |
The movements of Devon-based Paul Conroy had been shrouded in discretion because of fears for his safety, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut. | The movements of Devon-based Paul Conroy had been shrouded in discretion because of fears for his safety, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut. |
Syrian opposition sources said he was smuggled out of Baba Amr on Monday and taken through the Syrian countryside before crossing the border into Lebanon during the night. | Syrian opposition sources said he was smuggled out of Baba Amr on Monday and taken through the Syrian countryside before crossing the border into Lebanon during the night. |
In a video posting a few days ago, Mr Conroy said he had received "three large wounds" to his leg and was being treated by Free Syria Army medical staff. | In a video posting a few days ago, Mr Conroy said he had received "three large wounds" to his leg and was being treated by Free Syria Army medical staff. |
Ms Bouvier was more seriously wounded, suffering multiple leg fractures. | Ms Bouvier was more seriously wounded, suffering multiple leg fractures. |
The French embassy in Beirut said it was unable to confirm reports that she too had been smuggled into Lebanon. Other reports suggest she may not have been evacuated from Baba Amr. | |
There has been no word either on what has happened to the bodies of Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik. | There has been no word either on what has happened to the bodies of Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik. |
Ms Colvin's mother Rosemarie told the BBC's Today programme of her hope that her daughter's body could be brought home. "I want my daughter back and I can't rest myself, I can't have peace in my life, with my daughter's remains in that country," she said. | Ms Colvin's mother Rosemarie told the BBC's Today programme of her hope that her daughter's body could be brought home. "I want my daughter back and I can't rest myself, I can't have peace in my life, with my daughter's remains in that country," she said. |
Checkpoint deaths | Checkpoint deaths |
The Syrian government appears to have stepped up its offensive against rebels across the country - sending forces into several towns in northern Syria for the first time. | The Syrian government appears to have stepped up its offensive against rebels across the country - sending forces into several towns in northern Syria for the first time. |
As many as 125 people died across Syria on Monday, many of them in a single incident at a checkpoint in Homs, the Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), an activists' group said. | |
However, it is difficult to independently verify the death tolls and individual incidents as media access across the country is tightly restricted. | |
The emergency session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is to discuss a confidential report delivered by a UN panel of experts that lists Syrian army officers and government officials who could be investigated for crimes against humanity. | |
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has urged the 47 nations in the council to be prepared to submit a complaint against Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. | |
"The task of the council is to express the disgust of the entire world at the odious crimes that the Syrian state is committing against its people," he said. | |
The meeting is unlikely to bring about any change from the government in Damascus which is currently fighting for its survival, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from neighbouring Lebanon. It is more likely to put pressure on countries such as Russia and China, which have opposed any international action against Syria, he adds. | |