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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Syria unrest: Military 'advancing in Homs' | Syria unrest: Military 'advancing in Homs' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Syrian army is advancing on opposition positions in Homs, which has been under artillery bombardment for nearly a month, reports say. | The Syrian army is advancing on opposition positions in Homs, which has been under artillery bombardment for nearly a month, reports say. |
| Security officials said the city's besieged district of Baba Amr would be "cleaned" within the next few hours. | |
| Communications with Homs have been cut off since Tuesday night, and the scale of the operation remains unclear. | Communications with Homs have been cut off since Tuesday night, and the scale of the operation remains unclear. |
| It comes amid reports of a new draft UN resolution on the crisis, calling for an end to violence and access for aid. | It comes amid reports of a new draft UN resolution on the crisis, calling for an end to violence and access for aid. |
| The draft, which is still in its early stages, focuses on humanitarian aid for Syria, in the hope both China and Russia, which have opposed previous votes, will back it. | The draft, which is still in its early stages, focuses on humanitarian aid for Syria, in the hope both China and Russia, which have opposed previous votes, will back it. |
| China indicated it would give its support to steps "creating conditions" for humanitarian aid to be sent. | China indicated it would give its support to steps "creating conditions" for humanitarian aid to be sent. |
| A UN meeting on Tuesday was told more than 7,500 had died in the 11 months of protest against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | A UN meeting on Tuesday was told more than 7,500 had died in the 11 months of protest against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. |
| Meanwhile, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said she was "deeply disappointed" to have been denied entry into Syria. | |
| Ms Amos last week officially asked Damascus to allow her visit to assess what could be done to help civilians trapped in places like Homs. | |
| 'Fight to the end' | |
| Fresh shelling was reported in Homs on Wednesday morning, a day after more than 100 people were killed, rights groups said. Power to many areas of the city is said to have been cut. | Fresh shelling was reported in Homs on Wednesday morning, a day after more than 100 people were killed, rights groups said. Power to many areas of the city is said to have been cut. |
| An unnamed security official told AFP news agency that Baba Amr was now "under control". | An unnamed security official told AFP news agency that Baba Amr was now "under control". |
| "The army has started combing the area building by building and house by house. Now the troops are searching every basement and tunnel for arms and terrorists," he said. | "The army has started combing the area building by building and house by house. Now the troops are searching every basement and tunnel for arms and terrorists," he said. |
| The government has repeatedly said its military action is tackling "armed gangs" and "terrorists". | The government has repeatedly said its military action is tackling "armed gangs" and "terrorists". |
| The Associated Press also quoted an official as saying Baba Amr would be "cleaned" within hours. | The Associated Press also quoted an official as saying Baba Amr would be "cleaned" within hours. |
| But the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said rebel forces were "preventing an attempt to storm" the neighbourhood, AFP reported. | But the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said rebel forces were "preventing an attempt to storm" the neighbourhood, AFP reported. |
| One activist in the city, Mohammad al-Homsi, told Reuters earlier that infantry was moving towards the al-Bassel football stadium just north of Baba Amr, and that "fierce confrontations with automatic rifles and heavy machine-guns are taking place there". | One activist in the city, Mohammad al-Homsi, told Reuters earlier that infantry was moving towards the al-Bassel football stadium just north of Baba Amr, and that "fierce confrontations with automatic rifles and heavy machine-guns are taking place there". |
| Another Syrian activist told the BBC that there were about 400 Free Syrian Army rebel fighters in Baba Amr, who "will fight to the end". | |
| The BBC's Jim Muir, reporting from Beirut, says communications with Homs appear to have been cut. | The BBC's Jim Muir, reporting from Beirut, says communications with Homs appear to have been cut. |
| Some activists told the BBC on Tuesday night that government forces were only about 1km (half a mile) from the press centre in which two foreign journalists were killed by shelling on 22 February. | |
| The activists said they expected to be attacked within hours. | The activists said they expected to be attacked within hours. |
| But our correspondent says it remains to be seen whether the latest manoeuvres are the big push into Homs that has been expected. | But our correspondent says it remains to be seen whether the latest manoeuvres are the big push into Homs that has been expected. |
| Three other journalists caught up last week's blast - Edith Bouvier, William Daniels and Javier Espinosa - are still believed to be trapped in Baba Amr. | Three other journalists caught up last week's blast - Edith Bouvier, William Daniels and Javier Espinosa - are still believed to be trapped in Baba Amr. |
| Sunday Times photographer Paul Conroy was smuggled out to Lebanon on Tuesday in an operation that left 13 Syrian opposition activists dead. | Sunday Times photographer Paul Conroy was smuggled out to Lebanon on Tuesday in an operation that left 13 Syrian opposition activists dead. |
| UK Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs Mr Conroy was safe and had been in the British embassy in Beirut. | UK Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs Mr Conroy was safe and had been in the British embassy in Beirut. |
| "He is being properly looked after and I am sure that soon he will want to come home," Mr Cameron said. | "He is being properly looked after and I am sure that soon he will want to come home," Mr Cameron said. |
| Aid push | Aid push |
| The draft UN Security Council resolution being drawn up by the US and France seeks access for humanitarian aid workers and an end to violence. | The draft UN Security Council resolution being drawn up by the US and France seeks access for humanitarian aid workers and an end to violence. |
| One diplomat told Reuters the draft had been circulated among "a small circle of like-minded countries". | One diplomat told Reuters the draft had been circulated among "a small circle of like-minded countries". |
| Western diplomats say the outline focuses on humanitarian access but also suggests that Mr Assad is responsible for the crisis. | Western diplomats say the outline focuses on humanitarian access but also suggests that Mr Assad is responsible for the crisis. |
| The aim is to make it hard for Russia and China, who say they are opposed to forced regime change, to use their veto. | The aim is to make it hard for Russia and China, who say they are opposed to forced regime change, to use their veto. |
| On 4 February, China and Russia blocked a UN resolution which backed an Arab plan condemning the crackdown and called on Mr Assad to step down. | On 4 February, China and Russia blocked a UN resolution which backed an Arab plan condemning the crackdown and called on Mr Assad to step down. |
| China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi indicated his country was in favour of creating the conditions for aid to be sent. | China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi indicated his country was in favour of creating the conditions for aid to be sent. |
| Speaking to the head of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi , over the phone, Mr Yang said China was willing to work with the Arab nations for ''a peaceful and proper settlement of the Syria issue'', the official Xinhua news agency reported. | Speaking to the head of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi , over the phone, Mr Yang said China was willing to work with the Arab nations for ''a peaceful and proper settlement of the Syria issue'', the official Xinhua news agency reported. |
| "The international community should create favourable conditions in this regard and provide humanitarian aid to Syria," Xinhua quoted him as saying. | "The international community should create favourable conditions in this regard and provide humanitarian aid to Syria," Xinhua quoted him as saying. |
| China has accused the West of pursuing "hegemonistic ambitions" in Syria under the guise of "humanitarian concern". | China has accused the West of pursuing "hegemonistic ambitions" in Syria under the guise of "humanitarian concern". |
| Correspondents say it remains far from clear whether Beijing will or will not veto any new Security Council resolution. | Correspondents say it remains far from clear whether Beijing will or will not veto any new Security Council resolution. |
| The Syrian government says at least 1,345 members of the security forces have been killed combating what it calls "armed gangs and terrorists", and puts the number of civilians killed at 2,493. | The Syrian government says at least 1,345 members of the security forces have been killed combating what it calls "armed gangs and terrorists", and puts the number of civilians killed at 2,493. |
| Are you in Syria? Do you have friends or family in the country? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Syria? Do you have friends or family in the country? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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