Syrian government's offensive in Homs stepped up

By Martin Fell

The Syrian government's military offensive in the embattled city of Homs has been stepped up.

More than 50 anti-government protesters have been killed today (Monday February 6th), as president Bashar al-Assad focuses his efforts on subduing the rebel stronghold.

Speaking to Reuters, Catherine al-Talli, from the Syrian National Council, said: "The tally that we have received from various activists in Homs since the shelling started at six this morning is 50, mostly civilians."

State television is claiming that terrorist gangs were responsible for the destruction in the city.

The attack comes shortly after the Syrian National Council accused Russia and China of giving the Syrian government a "licence to kill".

China and Russia both vetoed a UN resolution that would have put increasing pressure on al-Assad to stop using the military against his own people.

The vetoes were described by US secretary of state Hillary Clinton as a "travesty". She suggested that the conflict could degenerate into a "brutal civil war" if action was not taken.