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Russia 'categorically against' Syria intervention Russia 'categorically against' Syria intervention
(40 minutes later)
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.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.
Russia wields a veto at the UN Security Council and the remarks are a blow to hopes of a fresh initiative there.Russia wields a veto at the UN Security Council and the remarks are a blow to hopes of a fresh initiative there.
International outrage has been expressed at the massacre in Houla in which 108 people were killed. International outrage has been expressed at the killing of 108 people - mostly women and children - in Houla.
More violence has been reported in Syria since. Neighbouring Turkey is expelling all Syrian diplomatic staff in protest.
Parts of Homs were shelled on Wednesday morning, while explosions were heard in Damascus overnight, activists said. The move goes further than the co-ordinated action by other countries, who restricted their expulsions to the most senior staff.
Activists say 70 people were killed on Tuesday. Turkey's foreign ministry said it was "out of the question to remain silent".
Several countries - now joined by Japan - have already announced that they are expelling Syrian diplomats in a co-ordinated protest at the crackdown.
UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan says Syria is at a "tipping point". His deputy will later update the UN Security Council on the crisis.UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan says Syria is at a "tipping point". His deputy will later update the UN Security Council on the crisis.
The violence in Syria is continuing, with activists reporting 70 deaths on Tuesday and shelling in Homs on Wednesday morning.
'Turning point''Turning point'
China and Russia have previously blocked two UN Security Council resolutions calling for tougher action on Damascus.China and Russia have previously blocked two UN Security Council resolutions calling for tougher action on Damascus.
On Tuesday, French President Francois Hollande 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.
The US state department meanwhile expressed hope that the events in Houla might prove a "turning point in Russian thinking".The US state department meanwhile expressed hope that the events in Houla might prove a "turning point in Russian thinking".
And Israel's Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the massacre should "compel the world to take action - not just talk, but action", reported the New York Times.
But on Wednesday Russia appeared to rule out a shift in stance.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 news agency. "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," Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told Interfax news agency.
A spokesman for China's foreign ministry also reiterated Beijing's opposition to military intervention in Syria or forced "regime change".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.
An unverified video posted online showed an armoured vehicle strafing buildings in Bab al-Sabaa with a machine-gun. Troops were also reported to have entered Bab al-Sabaa, and overnight activists said five people were killed by shells and gunfire in a Damascus suburb.
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''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, 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.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". A number of countries - the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Switzerland, Canada, Japan and Turkey - have now expelled Syrian ambassadors and officials.
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.
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.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. Witnesses have told the UN the vast majority of killings were committed 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. Are you in Houla, or elsewhere in Syria? Have you been affected by the recent violence? Send us your comments using the form below.
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. Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can class="inlineText" href="http://bbcnewsupload.streamuk.com/">upload here.
But the next step is likely to be one or more investigations into the Houla killings, to establish who was responsible, she adds. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/2780295.stm#yourpics">Read the terms and conditions