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Syrian city of Homs sees 'worst shelling for months' Syrian city of Homs sees 'worst shelling in months'
(about 1 hour later)
The Syrian city of Homs has been subjected to its most severe bombardment in five months, activists say. Syria's city of Homs has been subjected to its most severe bombardment in five months, activists say.
Aircraft and artillery targeted the neighbourhood of Khaldiya, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.Aircraft and artillery targeted the neighbourhood of Khaldiya, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
There are also reports of fresh violence across the country. Activists also reported fierce clashes in the second city Aleppo, and government shelling in the capital Damascus, Hama and Idlib.
Activists reported fierce clashes in the second city Aleppo, and government shelling in the capital Damascus, Hama, and Idlib. Turkey has meanwhile reinforced its border following a deadly Syrian mortar strike on a Turkish town.
The fighting comes after the UN Security Council condemned a deadly Syrian mortar strike on a Turkish town. 'Shelling hysterically'
"It seems like the regime has a limited window to use its warplanes, because it is throwing everything it can at the rebels in Homs," the head of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP news agency. Syrian government forces had subjected Homs to months of intense bombardment until April, after which the focus of the violence shifted to other cities.
Syrian government forces subjected Homs to months of intense bombardment until April, after which the focus of the violence shifted to other cities. But on Friday activists reported military strikes on Khaldiya, and also on the districts of Old Homs, Qusour and Jouret el-Shayah.
The Local Co-ordination Committees activist network reported anti-government demonstrations on Friday in a number of towns and cities including Damascus and Aleppo. The head of the the UK-based opposition activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP news agency: "It seems like the regime has a limited window to use its warplanes, because it is throwing everything it can at the rebels in Homs."
One Homs-based activist, Abu Rami, told Associated Press: "Around dawn, the regime went crazy and started shelling hysterically. An average of five rockets a minute are falling."
The Observatory also said there had been renewed shelling of rebel positions in the neighbourhood of Sakhour in Aleppo, which state TV described as a "cleansing of terrorists and mercenaries".
The Local Co-ordination Committees activist network reported anti-government demonstrations on Friday in a number of towns and cities, including Damascus and Aleppo.
Meanwhile, rebel fighters said they had captured an air base with a stock of missiles outside the capital, Damascus.Meanwhile, rebel fighters said they had captured an air base with a stock of missiles outside the capital, Damascus.
Rebels released video showing smoke rising from the installation in the Eastern Ghouta area, along with captured missiles, but the footage has not been independently verified.
Syrian rebels have increasingly targeted air bases as government forces have stepped up the use of air strikes.Syrian rebels have increasingly targeted air bases as government forces have stepped up the use of air strikes.
'Threat to stability'
According to activists, more than 30,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March last year. The UN estimates that at least 20,000 have died.According to activists, more than 30,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March last year. The UN estimates that at least 20,000 have died.
The Observatory put Thursday's death toll from fighting in Syria at 180.The Observatory put Thursday's death toll from fighting in Syria at 180.
On Thursday, the UN Security Council said the strike on the Turkish border town of Akcakale underscored the grave impact the Syrian crisis was having on "regional peace and stability". Two women and three children were killed. Military build up
An earlier UN draft referring to "international peace and security" was blocked by Syria's ally Russia. On Thursday, the UN Security Council said the Syrian mortar strike on the Turkish border town of Akcakale - which is believed to have been an accident - underscored the grave impact the Syrian crisis was having on "regional peace and stability". Two women and three children were killed.
Turkey's parliament authorised troops to launch cross-border operations against Syria for a period of one year. Turkey responded by shelling Syrian army positions.
However, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his country did not intend to start a war with Syria. Turkey's parliament also authorised troops to launch cross-border operations against Syria for a period of one year.
Russia has consistently blocked UN Security Council resolutions, saying it does not support regime change in Syria. On Friday, Turkey moved tanks and anti-aircraft missiles into Akcakale, although Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his country does not intend to start a war with Syria.
China - another veto-wielding UN power - has also sided with Russia. There were no reports of cross-border clashes, although the situation remains tense.
One resident of Oncul, close to Akcakale, told AP: "Our store owners, our citizens and our children are all very concerned. We did not sleep until morning."