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Syria unrest: France's Bouvier and UK's Conroy out of Homs Syria unrest: France's Bouvier out of Homs - Sarkozy
(40 minutes later)
French reporter Edith Bouvier and British photographer Paul Conroy, wounded in Syrian army attacks on Homs, have both reached Lebanon, France's President Sarkozy has confirmed. French reporter Edith Bouvier, who was wounded in a Syrian army attack on Homs, has escaped into Lebanon, President Sarkozy has said.
Both were injured in the bombardment which killed US journalist Marie Colvin and France's Remi Ochlik. The news came hours after it was confirmed that injured UK photographer Paul Conroy was also in Lebanon.
It appears they were smuggled out of the city and into Lebanon with the help of opposition forces. Reports say they were smuggled out with the aid of opposition forces. Both were hurt in the attack in which journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik died.
The UN Human Rights Council has renewed its call for a humanitarian ceasefire. The UN says more than 7,500 people have now died since the crackdown began.
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. UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said atrocities against civilians were being committed, and she had received reports that "massive campaigns of arrests" by Syrian troops against rebels had deprived many civilians of food, water and medical supplies.
Her comments came at an emergency meeting of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, which renewed calls for a humanitarian ceasefire.
Syria's representative to the UN, Faysal Khabbaz Hamoui, stormed out of the session, accusing countries of "inciting sectarianism and providing arms".Syria's representative to the UN, Faysal Khabbaz Hamoui, stormed out of the session, accusing countries of "inciting sectarianism and providing arms".
Renewed assault
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.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.
'Shrouded in discretion' President Sarkozy's statement on the campaign trail that Ms Bouvier had reached safety appeared to end nearly 24 hours of confusion over the journalists' fate, although there remains no direct confirmation from inside Lebanon.
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 the embattled district of Baba Amr on Monday night, but had been unable to bring out the Western journalists or the bodies of their colleagues. Some reports said the journalists had declined to board the Red Crescent vehicles.
On Tuesday morning it was confirmed that Mr Conroy had reached Lebanon, apparently with opposition help, but Ms Bouvier's whereabout remained unclear for many hours.
The movements of 47-year-old Mr Conroy had been shrouded in discretion because of fears for his safety, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut.The movements of 47-year-old Mr 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. Her evacuation was confirmed by President Sarkozy in a statement, hours after Mr Conroy was known to be in Lebanon.Ms Bouvier was more seriously wounded, suffering multiple leg fractures. Her evacuation was confirmed by President Sarkozy in a statement, hours after Mr Conroy was known to be in Lebanon.
The Syrian activist group, Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), said on its Facebook page that Ms Bouvier and other foreign journalists had refused to leave Homs until the Syrian regime guaranteed their photographs and recordings would not be confiscated.The Syrian activist group, Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), said on its Facebook page that Ms Bouvier and other foreign journalists had refused to leave Homs until the Syrian regime guaranteed their photographs and recordings would not be confiscated.
"They have also demanded from the Red Crescent to transport some injured civilians that are in a critical condition, but the Red Crescent refused," the group added."They have also demanded from the Red Crescent to transport some injured civilians that are in a critical condition, but the Red Crescent refused," the group added.
Their comments have not been independently verified.Their comments have not been independently verified.
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. Opposition campaign group Avaaz said it had been involved in the operation to free the journalists and some of its activists had died.
Checkpoint deaths Rising casualties
The Syrian government appears to have stepped up its offensive against rebels across the country this week - 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 this week - 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 LCC said.As many as 125 people died across Syria on Monday, many of them in a single incident at a checkpoint in Homs, the LCC said.
Sixty more were killed on Tuesday, it said.Sixty more were killed on Tuesday, it said.
However, it is difficult to independently verify the death tolls and individual incidents as media access across the country is tightly restricted.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.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.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 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.
But 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.But 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.It is more likely to put pressure on countries such as Russia and China, which have opposed any international action against Syria, he adds.