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Syria unrest: Military 'advancing in Homs' Syria unrest: Military 'advancing in Homs'
(39 minutes later)
Syrian forces have launched a ground assault on opposition positions in the city of Homs, reports say, after nearly a month of artillery bombardment.Syrian forces have launched a ground assault on opposition positions in the city of Homs, reports say, after nearly a month of artillery bombardment.
Security officials said the Baba Amr district would soon be "cleaned", but reports say fighting is continuing.Security officials said the Baba Amr district would soon be "cleaned", but reports say fighting is continuing.
Some lines of communication with Homs have now been restored but the scale of the operation remains unclear.Some lines of communication with Homs have now been restored but the scale of the operation remains unclear.
It comes as a new UN resolution on the crisis, calling for an end to violence and access for aid, is being drafted.
The text, 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.
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 has said she has been denied entry into Syria.Meanwhile, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos has said she has been denied entry into Syria.
She had gone to neighbouring Lebanon while she waited for the Syrian government's response to her application, UN diplomats said.She had gone to neighbouring Lebanon while she waited for the Syrian government's response to her application, UN diplomats said.
In a statement, Ms Amos said the refusal came "despite my repeated requests to meet Syrian officials at the highest level to discuss the humanitarian situation and the need for unhindered access to the people affected by the violence".In a statement, Ms Amos said the refusal came "despite my repeated requests to meet Syrian officials at the highest level to discuss the humanitarian situation and the need for unhindered access to the people affected by the violence".
'Fight to the end' New draft
Fresh shelling was reported in Homs on Wednesday morning, a day after more than 100 people were killed, rights groups said. Power and phone lines to many areas of the city are said to have been cut off. The US and France are leading efforts to draft a new UN Security Council resolution on the crisis, calling for an end to violence and access for aid.
An unnamed security official told AFP news agency that Baba Amr was now "under control". The text, which is still in its early stages, focuses on humanitarian aid for Syria, in the hope both China and Russia will back it.
"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. They vetoed earlier UN Security Council resolutions in October and February, out of concerns that UN action could trigger Libya-style regime change.
The government has repeatedly said its military action is tackling "armed gangs" and "terrorists". China indicated it would give its support to steps "creating conditions" for humanitarian aid to be sent.
Homs was shelled again on Wednesday, rights groups said, a day after more than 100 people were killed. Power and phone lines to many areas of the city are said to have been cut off.
An unnamed security official told AFP news agency that Baba Amr was now "under control", saying troops were searching "every basement and tunnel for arms 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.
However, opposition activists said fighting was continuing on the edges of Baba Amr.However, opposition activists said fighting was continuing on the edges of Baba Amr.
The Farouq Brigade of the Free Syrian Army was trying to hold off the assault led by units of the armoured Fourth Division, which is commanded by Maher al-Assad, the president's brother, activists told Reuters.The Farouq Brigade of the Free Syrian Army was trying to hold off the assault led by units of the armoured Fourth Division, which is commanded by Maher al-Assad, the president's brother, activists told Reuters.
Another Syrian activist told the BBC there were about 400 Free Syrian Army rebel fighters in Baba Amr, who "will fight to the end".Another Syrian activist told the BBC there were about 400 Free Syrian Army rebel fighters in Baba Amr, who "will fight to the end".
But the BBC's Jim Muir, in neighbouring Lebanon, says it remains to be seen whether the latest manoeuvres are the big push into Homs that has been expected.But the BBC's Jim Muir, in neighbouring Lebanon, says it remains to be seen whether the latest manoeuvres are the big push into Homs that has been expected.
Three Western journalists - Edith Bouvier, William Daniels and Javier Espinosa - are still believed to be trapped in Baba Amr, where the makeshift media centre they were using was shelled last week. Meanwhile, France has said it is ready to evacuate two of its citizens trapped in Homs, journalists Edith Bouvier and William Daniels.
Wounded Sunday Times photographer Paul Conroy was smuggled out to Lebanon on Tuesday in an operation that left 13 Syrian opposition activists dead. "We expect the government in Damascus to provide all the conditions for a safe and rapid evacuation, in particular an immediate ceasefire in Baba Amr," the French foreign ministry said in a statement.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said Mr Conroy was safe and had been in the British embassy in Beirut. A Spanish correspondent Javier Espinosa, is believed to be with them. They were all in a makeshift media centre in Baba Amr when it was shelled last week.
"He is being properly looked after and I am sure that soon he will want to come home," Mr Cameron told the House of Commons. Two of their colleagues were killed, and Ms Bouvier was seriously wounded, along with British photojournalist Paul Conroy.
Mr Conroy was smuggled out of Syria to Lebanon on Tuesday. He is now safe, and UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said he is "being properly looked after".
Aid pushAid 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 focuses on humanitarian access but also suggests that Mr Assad is responsible for the crisis, Western diplomats say.
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. China has indicated it is in favour of creating conditions for aid to be sent.
The aim is to make it hard for Russia and China, who say they are opposed to forced regime change, to use their veto. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told the head of the Arab League that China was willing to work with the Arab nations for ''a peaceful and proper settlement of the Syria issue'', China's official Xinhua news agency reported.
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.
In a telephone conversation with the head of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi, Mr Yang said China was willing to work with the Arab nations for ''a peaceful and proper settlement of the Syria issue'', China's 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.
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