Syria Intensifies Assault on Homs

Sergei Lavrov

Recently a Syrian military assault on Homs killed dozens of people, while world leaders struggle for a diplomatic arrangement to end the violence in the country.

After the failure of a UN Security Council resolution, Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov arrived Damascus on Tuesday to press the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to implement democratic reforms after Russia and China vetoed any U.N.-backed measures against the Syrian government.

The Russian initiative came a day after the United States closed its embassy in Damascus, on February 6; while Belgium and Britain recalled their ambassadors. US President Barack Obama added that they have no intention of using force to remove al-Assad, however the West was willing to lean on Assad diplomatically.

Demonstrators and witnesses informed that the Syrian army is currently intensifying their attack on opposition rebels after Russia and China blocked the UN resolution. (AV)