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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| 'Many dead' in fresh Homs attacks | 'Many dead' in fresh Homs attacks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Activists believe as many as 47 people have been killed in an attack by pro-government militia in the embattled Syrian city of Homs. | Activists believe as many as 47 people have been killed in an attack by pro-government militia in the embattled Syrian city of Homs. |
| Women and children are among those reported to have been tortured and killed on Sunday night in the neighbourhood of Karm el-Zeytoun. | Women and children are among those reported to have been tortured and killed on Sunday night in the neighbourhood of Karm el-Zeytoun. |
| The Syrian government acknowledged the deaths, but blamed "armed terrorists". | The Syrian government acknowledged the deaths, but blamed "armed terrorists". |
| The attack happened hours after UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan ended his two-day mission to Damascus. | The attack happened hours after UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan ended his two-day mission to Damascus. |
| Homs has been under assault for weeks as government forces have tried to root out rebel fighters. Parts of the city are devastated. | Homs has been under assault for weeks as government forces have tried to root out rebel fighters. Parts of the city are devastated. |
| Syria will be on the agenda when US Security Council foreign ministers meet in New York later. | |
| UK Foreign Secretary William Hague told the BBC the Security Council had so far failed in its responsibility to the Syrian people, but that it was important to keep trying. | |
| He said it ought to be possible for council members - which include Russia and China, who have opposed previous resolutions on Syria - to pass a resolution calling for humanitarian access and an end to violence in the coming days. | |
| 'Burned alive' | 'Burned alive' |
| Hundreds of families fled the Karm el-Zeytoun area of Homs on Monday after reports of the attack in their neighbourhood overnight, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. | |
| One activist in Homs, Hadi Abdallah, told AFP the bodies of 26 children and 21 women were found, some with their throats slit and others bearing stab wounds. | One activist in Homs, Hadi Abdallah, told AFP the bodies of 26 children and 21 women were found, some with their throats slit and others bearing stab wounds. |
| Both the opposition Syrian Revolution General Commission (SRGC) and the Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), an activist network in Syria, put the toll at 45. | |
| The SRGC said that some of the victims had been burned alive with heating fuel poured over them and others had their necks and limbs broken. | The SRGC said that some of the victims had been burned alive with heating fuel poured over them and others had their necks and limbs broken. |
| Mulham al-Jundi, an opposition activist and member of the SNC, said Karm el-Zeytoun was experiencing a military bombardment similar to the one seen in Baba Amr district in recent weeks. | Mulham al-Jundi, an opposition activist and member of the SNC, said Karm el-Zeytoun was experiencing a military bombardment similar to the one seen in Baba Amr district in recent weeks. |
| He told the BBC government troops were firing rockets from tanks outside the neighbourhood, then going in and "killing the families who stay inside these areas". | |
| Reports are difficult to verify because of tight restrictions on independent media operating in Syria. | Reports are difficult to verify because of tight restrictions on independent media operating in Syria. |
| Footage posted on YouTube, said to show the bodies of men, women and children killed in the attack, made for grim viewing, said the BBC's Jon Donnison in neighbouring Lebanon. | Footage posted on YouTube, said to show the bodies of men, women and children killed in the attack, made for grim viewing, said the BBC's Jon Donnison in neighbouring Lebanon. |
| In one video, at least 11 bodies can be seen, including at least four young children covered in blood, he adds. | In one video, at least 11 bodies can be seen, including at least four young children covered in blood, he adds. |
| Syrians have been urged to go on strike on Tuesday in a "day of mourning" organised by the LCC. | |
| The LCC said last Thursday that at least 44 people - including 20 from one family and 16 from another - were killed in the Jobar district of Homs. | The LCC said last Thursday that at least 44 people - including 20 from one family and 16 from another - were killed in the Jobar district of Homs. |
| 'Concrete proposals' | 'Concrete proposals' |
| Syrian state television accused "armed terrorist gangs" of carrying out the killings, saying the bodies had been filmed in an effort to discredit the government. | Syrian state television accused "armed terrorist gangs" of carrying out the killings, saying the bodies had been filmed in an effort to discredit the government. |
| Both the LCC and the Observatory blame the pro-government Shabiha militia for the attack. | Both the LCC and the Observatory blame the pro-government Shabiha militia for the attack. |
| The Shabiha has been blamed for many of the atrocities carried out since the uprising began nearly a year ago. | The Shabiha has been blamed for many of the atrocities carried out since the uprising began nearly a year ago. |
| Activists say their presence has allowed the government to deny any involvement in the most brutal actions against protesters. | Activists say their presence has allowed the government to deny any involvement in the most brutal actions against protesters. |
| Kofi Annan left Syria on Sunday after two days off talks with President Bashar al-Assad, saying he was "optimistic" about the possibility of a ceasefire, humanitarian access to affected areas and future political dialogue. | |
| He said he had presented Mr Assad with "concrete proposals" to bring an end to the bloodshed, but gave no hint that a deal was imminent. | He said he had presented Mr Assad with "concrete proposals" to bring an end to the bloodshed, but gave no hint that a deal was imminent. |