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| Russia 'categorically against' Syria intervention | Russia 'categorically against' Syria intervention |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Hopes of a new international initiative over Syria have suffered a setback after a Russian minister ruled out any action by the UN Security Council soon. | Hopes of a new international initiative over Syria have suffered a setback after a Russian minister ruled out any action by the UN Security Council soon. |
| Russia "categorically" opposed foreign intervention in Syria, he said, as outrage grew over the massacre of 108 people in Houla last week. | Russia "categorically" opposed foreign intervention in Syria, he said, as outrage grew over the massacre of 108 people in Houla last week. |
| Turkey is expelling all Syrian diplomatic staff from Ankara, following similar moves by Western states. | Turkey is expelling all Syrian diplomatic staff from Ankara, following similar moves by Western states. |
| UN observers have verified what appears to have been another multiple killing. | UN observers have verified what appears to have been another multiple killing. |
| Thirteen bodies were found in al-Sukar, east of the city of Deir al-Zour, with their hands tied behind their backs and signs that some had been shot in the head from close range. | Thirteen bodies were found in al-Sukar, east of the city of Deir al-Zour, with their hands tied behind their backs and signs that some had been shot in the head from close range. |
| Maj Gen Robert Mood, head of the UN observer mission which recently deployed in Syria, said he was "deeply disturbed by this appalling and inexcusable act". | Maj Gen Robert Mood, head of the UN observer mission which recently deployed in Syria, said he was "deeply disturbed by this appalling and inexcusable act". |
| Thousands of people, perhaps as many as 15,000, have been killed since the revolt against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad began in March of last year. | Thousands of people, perhaps as many as 15,000, have been killed since the revolt against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad began in March of last year. |
| Expulsions 'counterproductive' | Expulsions 'counterproductive' |
| China and Russia, which both wield a veto at the UN Security Council, have blocked two previous resolutions calling for tougher action on Damascus. | China and Russia, which both wield a veto at the UN Security Council, have blocked two previous 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 expressed hope that the events in Houla might prove a "turning point in Russian thinking". | The US state department expressed hope that the events in Houla might prove a "turning point in Russian thinking". |
| Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said: "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." | Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said: "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." |
| Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that the expulsion of Syrian diplomats from leading Western states seemed to be "counterproductive". "After all, vital [diplomatic] channels... end up being closed," it added. | Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that the expulsion of Syrian diplomats from leading Western states seemed to be "counterproductive". "After all, vital [diplomatic] channels... end up being closed," it added. |
| A spokesman for China's foreign ministry reiterated Beijing's opposition to military intervention in Syria or forced "regime change". | A spokesman for China's foreign ministry reiterated Beijing's opposition to military intervention in Syria or forced "regime change". |
| Syria's main opposition group, the Syrian National Council, said Russia had chosen "to join ranks with the Syrian regime and to provide it with political cover", AFP news agency reports. | Syria's main opposition group, the Syrian National Council, said Russia had chosen "to join ranks with the Syrian regime and to provide it with political cover", AFP news agency reports. |
| Turkey's move goes further than Tuesday's co-ordinated action by other states, which restricted their expulsions to the most senior staff. However, Syrian consular staff in Istanbul will remain. | Turkey's move goes further than Tuesday's co-ordinated action by other states, which restricted their expulsions to the most senior staff. However, Syrian consular staff in Istanbul will remain. |
| In apparent retaliation for the diplomatic expulsions, Syria gave the Dutch charge d'affaires - one of the few remaining top-level Western diplomatic representatives in Damascus - 72 hours to leave. | In apparent retaliation for the diplomatic expulsions, Syria gave the Dutch charge d'affaires - one of the few remaining top-level Western diplomatic representatives in Damascus - 72 hours to leave. |
| In another development, Syria's honorary consul in California, Hazem Chehabi, resigned, saying he could not continue in his post after the "barbaric" massacre in Houla. | In another development, Syria's honorary consul in California, Hazem Chehabi, resigned, saying he could not continue in his post after the "barbaric" massacre in Houla. |
| One of the opposition organisations monitoring the violence, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported 39 new deaths in attacks across Syria on Wednesday. The figure, quoted by AFP news agency, included 15 government soldiers. | One of the opposition organisations monitoring the violence, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported 39 new deaths in attacks across Syria on Wednesday. The figure, quoted by AFP news agency, included 15 government soldiers. |
| Children and women | Children and women |
| Troops, tanks and artillery were all supposed to have been withdrawn to barracks in April as the first step on the ground under six-point peace plan of UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. | Troops, tanks and artillery were all supposed to have been withdrawn to barracks in April as the first step on the ground under six-point peace plan of UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. |
| But it simply has not happened, says the BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon. | But it simply has not happened, says the BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon. |
| Amid the reports of continuing violence, it appears Mr Annan's talks with President Bashar al-Assad and opposition figures in Damascus on Tuesday have had no immediate impact on the ground. | Amid the reports of continuing violence, it appears Mr Annan's talks with President Bashar al-Assad and opposition figures in Damascus on Tuesday have had no immediate impact on the ground. |
| Mr Annan's deputy, Jean-Marie Guehenno, is due to report to the UN Security Council on Wednesday on the talks with Mr Assad. | Mr Annan's deputy, Jean-Marie Guehenno, is due to report to the UN Security Council on Wednesday on the talks with Mr Assad. |
| Forty-nine children and 34 women were among those killed in Houla last Friday and Saturday. | Forty-nine children and 34 women were among those killed in Houla last Friday and Saturday. |
| Witnesses have told the UN the vast majority of killings were committed by pro-government shabiha militiamen. | Witnesses have told the UN the vast majority of killings were committed by pro-government shabiha militiamen. |
| The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session on Syria on Friday looking into the killings, officials said. | The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session on Syria on Friday looking into the killings, officials said. |