Syria crisis heads to UN Assembly

Syrian rescue workers remove wreckage from the Syrian military intelligence building at a security compound (Syrian rescue workers remove wreckage from the Syrian military intelligence building at a security compound.)

Sat, February 11, 2012 - 5:29 AM

The United Nations General Assembly is becoming the focus of attempts to apply pressure on the Syrian government over its continued crackdown on dissent.

Saudi Arabia is circulating a draft resolution calling for an end to violence by all sides and for President Bashar al-Assad to step aside.

It is similar to one which Russia and China vetoed in the Security Council.

The diplomatic move came as Syrian tanks and artillery continued to bombard parts of the city of Homs.

Opposition activists said the Baba Amr district - a centre of anti-government protests - had been hit by mortars today, killing at least 15 people, and that army snipers had been deployed on rooftops.

On Friday, activists said at least 52 people were killed across the country by security forces, including 16 in Homs and 15 in suburbs of Damascus.

Human rights groups say more than 7,000 have died since the uprising began in March. The government says at least 2,000 members of the security forces have been killed combating "armed gangs and terrorists". (BBC)