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Fresh violence in Syria despite Annan warning Russia 'categorically against' Syria intervention
(about 1 hour later)
Further violence is being reported in Syria, after a day in which activists said more than 70 people were killed. Russia is "categorically against" foreign intervention in Syria and believes any new steps by the UN Security Council would be "premature", its deputy foreign minister has said.
Gennady Gatilov's remarks to Interfax news agency come amid international outrage over a massacre on Friday.
Women and children made up the majority of the 108 victims in Houla.
Further violence has been reported in Syria - which former UN chief Kofi Annan says is at a "tipping point".
Activists say 70 people were killed on Tuesday.
Parts of Homs were shelled on Wednesday morning, while explosions were heard in Damascus overnight, activists said.Parts of Homs were shelled on Wednesday morning, while explosions were heard in Damascus overnight, activists said.
On Tuesday UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan said recent violence - including the Houla massacre in which 108 people were killed last Friday - had left Syria at a "tipping point". Several countries have already announced that they are expelling Syrian diplomats in a co-ordinated protest at the crackdown. Japan joined them on Wednesday.
Mr Annan's deputy will later update the UN Security Council on the crisis. A deputy for Mr Annan - who is acting as an envoy for the UN and Arab League - will later update the UN Security Council on the crisis.
Several Western countries have already announced that they are expelling Syrian diplomats in a co-ordinated protest at the crackdown. 'Turning point'
But Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said it was "premature" for any new Security Council action on Syria, and reiterated that it would block any military intervention. China and Russia have previously blocked two UN Security Council resolutions calling for tougher action on Damascus.
French President Francois Hollande earlier said military intervention authorised by the Security Council had not yet been ruled out. On Tuesday, French President Francois Hollande said military intervention authorised by the Security Council had not yet been ruled out.
'Bold steps' The US state department meanwhile expressed hope that the events in Houla might prove a "turning point in Russian thinking".
But on Wednesday Russia appeared to rule out a shift in stance.
"We have always said that we are categorically against any outside interference in the Syrian conflict because this will only exacerbate the situation for both Syria and the region as a whole," said Mr Gatilov told Interfax.
A spokesman for China's foreign ministry also reiterated Beijing's opposition to military intervention in Syria or forced "regime change".
On Wednesday morning, activists said the Qusair and Warsha districts of Homs, as well as several nearby villages, were being shelled by security forces. Troops were also reported to have entered Bab al-Sabaa.On Wednesday morning, activists said the Qusair and Warsha districts of Homs, as well as several nearby villages, were being shelled by security forces. Troops were also reported to have entered Bab al-Sabaa.
An unverified video posted online showed an armoured vehicle strafing buildings in Bab al-Sabaa with a machine-gun.An unverified video posted online showed an armoured vehicle strafing buildings in Bab al-Sabaa with a machine-gun.
Overnight, at least five people were killed by shells and gunfire in the eastern Damascus suburb of Douma, according to the Local Co-ordination Committees, an activist network.Overnight, at least five people were killed by shells and gunfire in the eastern Damascus suburb of Douma, according to the Local Co-ordination Committees, an activist network.
Clashes between security forces and the rebel Free Syrian Army were also reported in the suburb of al-Sabina, to the south.Clashes between security forces and the rebel Free Syrian Army were also reported in the suburb of al-Sabina, to the south.
'Bloodshed and division'
The BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says that if the reports are to be believed, Kofi Annan's talks with President Bashar al-Assad and opposition figures in Damascus on Tuesday have had no immediate impact on the ground.The BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says that if the reports are to be believed, Kofi Annan's talks with President Bashar al-Assad and opposition figures in Damascus on Tuesday have had no immediate impact on the ground.
After meeting Mr Assad, the former UN secretary general said he had urged him to take immediate, bold steps "not tomorrow, now" to halt the violence and have government forces exercise maximum restraint. After meeting Mr Assad, Mr Annan said he had urged him to take immediate, bold steps "not tomorrow, now" to halt the violence and have government forces exercise maximum restraint.
"We are at a tipping point," Mr Annan warned. "The Syrian people do not want the future to be one of bloodshed and division. Yet the killings continue and the abuses are still with us today.""We are at a tipping point," Mr Annan warned. "The Syrian people do not want the future to be one of bloodshed and division. Yet the killings continue and the abuses are still with us today."
Troops, tanks and artillery were all supposed to have been withdrawn to barracks in April as the first step on the ground under Mr Annan's six-point peace plan, but it simply has not happened, our correspondent says.Troops, tanks and artillery were all supposed to have been withdrawn to barracks in April as the first step on the ground under Mr Annan's six-point peace plan, but it simply has not happened, our correspondent says.
President Assad was quoted by state television as saying the success of the plan depended on halting "terrorist actions".President Assad was quoted by state television as saying the success of the plan depended on halting "terrorist actions".
If a repetition of that official line is all that Mr Annan came away with, then there is little hope for his mission, but the real results of his talks may become clearer when his deputy, Jean-Marie Guehenno, briefs the Security Council later on Wednesday, our correspondent adds.If a repetition of that official line is all that Mr Annan came away with, then there is little hope for his mission, but the real results of his talks may become clearer when his deputy, Jean-Marie Guehenno, briefs the Security Council later on Wednesday, our correspondent adds.
Mr Annan's trip to Damascus came after 11 countries - the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland, Canada and Japan - expelled Syrian ambassadors and officials because of the massacre of 108 people - including 49 children - in the Houla area of Homs province. Eleven countries - the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland, Canada and Japan - have now expelled Syrian ambassadors and officials.
The co-ordinated action was in response to Friday's massacre of 108 people - including 49 children and 34 women - in the Houla area of Homs province.
Earlier, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said preliminary investigations into the massacre showed the majority of the victims had been summarily executed.Earlier, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said preliminary investigations into the massacre showed the majority of the victims had been summarily executed.
Fewer than 20 were killed by tank and artillery fire which witnesses said preceded house-to-house raids by pro-government shabiha militiamen.Fewer than 20 were killed by tank and artillery fire which witnesses said preceded house-to-house raids by pro-government shabiha militiamen.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says translating international outrage about the massacre into further action at the Security Council will not be easy - not when Russia backs the Syrian government's view that much of the violence is also the work of armed gangs backed by outside powers.BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says translating international outrage about the massacre into further action at the Security Council will not be easy - not when Russia backs the Syrian government's view that much of the violence is also the work of armed gangs backed by outside powers.
But the next step is likely to be one or more investigations into the Houla killings, to establish who was responsible, she adds.But the next step is likely to be one or more investigations into the Houla killings, to establish who was responsible, she adds.