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Syrian violence

Syrian rebels are seen in Idlib, Syria, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012. Syrian forces fired mortars and rockets that killed scores of people Thursday in the rebellious city of Homs, activists said, the latest strike in a weeklong assault as President Bashar Assad's regime tries to crush increasingly militarized pockets of dissent. (AP Photo)

Humanitarian crisis deepens in Syrian city

Elizabeth A. Kennedy The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, February 10, 2012 - 2:10pm

BEIRUT -- Between blasts of rockets and mortar fire, Syrians used loudspeakers to call for blood donations and medical supplies Thursday in the stricken city of Homs, where a weeklong government offensive has created a deepening humanitarian crisis.

Government forces are trying to crush pockets of violent resistance in Homs, the epicenter of an 11-month-old uprising that has brought the country ever closer to civil war. The intense shelling in restive neighborhoods such as Baba Amr has made it difficult to get medicine and care to the wounded, and some areas have been without electricity for days, activists say.

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In this Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012 photo Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, after talks in Damascus, Syria. Lavrov's visit comes days after Syrian allies Russia and China vetoed a Western- and Arab-backed resolution at the United Nations that would have condemned the Assad regime's crackdown on dissents and calling on him to transfer some of his powers to his deputy. Russian Foreign Intelligence Chief Mikhail Fradkov stands at center.(AP Photo/Pool)

EU threatens new sanctions on Syria

Bassem Mroue The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, February 8, 2012 - 10:44am

BEIRUT -- The European Union will impose harsher sanctions on Syria, a senior EU official said Wednesday, as Russia tried to broker talks between the vice president and the opposition to calm violence. Activists reported at least 50 killed in military assaults targeting government opponents.

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This image taken from video filmed over the past several days by an independent cameraman and made available Tuesday Feb. 7, 2012 a member of the group that calls itself Free Syrian Army firing a gun in Homs, Syria. The bombardment of Homs, the hot bed of the resistance to President Bashar Assad's regime, has intensified over recent days, after Syria's allies Russia and China vetoed a Western and Arab-backed resolution at the United Nations that would have condemned the Assad regime's crackdown on dissent and called on him to transfer some of his powers to his deputy. (AP Photo/APTN)

Violence escalates in Syria

Zeina Karam The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, February 7, 2012 - 10:20am

BEIRUT -- Syrian forces renewed their assault on the flashpoint city of Homs on Tuesday as Russia's foreign minister held talks in Damascus with President Bashar Assad about the country's escalating violence.

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200 dead in Syrian government assault

Zeina Karam The Associated Press

Last updated Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 9:02am

BEIRUT -- Syrian forces unleashed a barrage of mortars and artillery on the battered city of Homs for hours before dawn on Saturday, sending terrified residents fleeing into basements and killing more than 200 people in what appeared to be the bloodiest episode in the nearly 11-month-old uprising, activists said.

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A Syrian rebel takes his position as he points his gun during a battle with the Syrian government forces, at Rastan area in Homs province, central Syria, on Tuesday Jan. 31, 2012. Syrian troops crushed pockets of rebel soldiers Tuesday on the outskirts of Damascus, fueling some of the bloodiest fighting of the 10-month-old uprising, as Western diplomats tried to overcome Russia's rejection of a draft U.N. resolution demanding President Bashar Assad halt the violence and yield power. (AP Photo)

Syria troops move on new rebel areas near capital

Lee Keath The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - 12:42pm

BEIRUT -- Syrian troops battled army defectors in a string of towns in the mountains overlooking Damascus on Wednesday in a new assault to crush rebellious areas around the capital, activists said.

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Syrian army defectors distribute bread for children in the Rastan area in Homs province, central Syria, on Monday Jan. 30, 2012. Syrian forces heavily shelled the restive city of Homs on Monday, and troops pushed back dissident troops from some suburbs on the outskirts of Damascus in an offensive trying to regain control of the capital's eastern doorstep, activists said.(AP Photo)

Russia: UN resolution on Syria is path to war

Elizabeth Kennedy The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - 10:17am

BEIRUT — A senior Russian diplomat Tuesday said a draft U.N. resolution demanding Syrian President Bashar Assad step aside is a "path to civil war," as Syrian troops besieged rebellious areas with hours of shelling and machine-gun fire.

The U.N. Security Council was set to meet later Tuesday to discuss the draft, backed by Western and some Arab powers. But Russia would likely veto any strong action against Damascus.

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This citizen journalism image provide by the Local Coordination Committees in Syria and released early Friday Jan. 27, 2012, purports to show a Syrian man, right, mourning over the dead body of his son, who was shot by the Syrian forces, in Idlib province, Syria, on Thursday Jan. 26, 2012. A "terrifying massacre" in the restive Syrian city of Homs has killed more than 30 people, including small children, in a barrage of mortar fire and attacks by armed forces loyal to President Bashar Assad, activists said Friday. (AP Photo/Local Coordination Committees in Syria) EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO SALES, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS HANDOUT PHOTO

Women, children killed in violence-torn Syria city

Zeina Karam The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, January 27, 2012 - 10:58am

BEIRUT -- Fresh violence erupted Friday in the besieged Syrian city of Homs, a day after armed forces loyal to President Bashar Assad barraged residential buildings with mortars and machine-gun fire, killing at least 30 people including a family of women and children, activists said Friday.

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This image made from amateur video and made available by Shaam News Network Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, purports to show protesters gathered as Arab League observers visit al-Hasaka, Syria. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via APTN) TV OUT. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL.

French journalist killed in Syria

Contributed The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 11:06am

PARIS -- A reporter for France 2 TV was killed Wednesday in an attack while covering violence in the restive Syrian city of Homs, the French Foreign Minister and the network said.

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In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad delivers a speech at Damascus University, in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012. Assad said Tuesday he will not step down, insisting that he still has his people's support despite a 10-month-old uprising against him. In his fourth speech since the Syrian revolt began in March, Assad also lashed out at the Arab League and accused the Cairo-based bloc of failing to protect Arab interests. The president has made few public appearances since the anti-government uprising began in March, inspired by the revolutions sweeping the Arab world. The regime's crackdown on dissent has killed thousands and led to international isolation and sanctions. (AP Photo/SANA)

Syrian troops kill 10 in eastern city

Zeina Karam The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - 10:29am

BEIRUT -- Activists say Syrian security forces have shot dead at least 10 people in an eastern city despite the presence of an Arab observer mission in the area.

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