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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 killing of 108 people - mostly women and children - in Houla. | |
Neighbouring Turkey is expelling all Syrian diplomatic staff in protest. | |
The move goes further than the co-ordinated action by other countries, who restricted their expulsions to the most senior staff. | |
Turkey's foreign ministry said it was "out of the question to remain silent". | |
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," 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, and overnight activists said five people were killed by shells and gunfire in a Damascus suburb. | |
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. |
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. | |
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. |
Witnesses have told the UN the vast majority of killings were committed by pro-government shabiha militiamen. | |
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