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| Syria forces assault Baba Amr quarter in besieged Homs | Syria forces assault Baba Amr quarter in besieged Homs |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The fate of the besieged Baba Amr quarter, in the Syrian city of Homs, remains unclear after government troops launched a ground offensive on rebels. | The fate of the besieged Baba Amr quarter, in the Syrian city of Homs, remains unclear after government troops launched a ground offensive on rebels. |
| Sources on both sides said government troops tried to advance on several fronts after weeks of heavy shelling. | Sources on both sides said government troops tried to advance on several fronts after weeks of heavy shelling. |
| Syrian officials said their forces were "mopping up" while activists said the attack had been repelled. | Syrian officials said their forces were "mopping up" while activists said the attack had been repelled. |
| Meanwhile, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos says she has been denied entry into Syria. | Meanwhile, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos says she has been denied entry into Syria. |
| 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". |
| 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. |
| Symbolic quarter | Symbolic quarter |
| Explosions echoed around all parts of Homs as the attack on the Baba Amr quarter got underway. | Explosions echoed around all parts of Homs as the attack on the Baba Amr quarter got underway. |
| Regime officials in Damascus told reporters that clearing out the rebels would only take a few hours and that it had already become a mopping up operation. | Regime officials in Damascus told reporters that clearing out the rebels would only take a few hours and that it had already become a mopping up operation. |
| But activist postings on the internet said the Free Syrian Army fighters had repelled repeated attacks by army forces and inflicted heavy losses. | But activist postings on the internet said the Free Syrian Army fighters had repelled repeated attacks by army forces and inflicted heavy losses. |
| The government has been reinforcing its troops around Baba Amr for some time. | The government has been reinforcing its troops around Baba Amr for some time. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir, in neighbouring Lebanon, says reports are circulating that the government has brought up units of the feared Fourth Armoured Division under President Assad's brother Maher. | The BBC's Jim Muir, in neighbouring Lebanon, says reports are circulating that the government has brought up units of the feared Fourth Armoured Division under President Assad's brother Maher. |
| For both sides, the district has taken on symbolic significance, our correspondent says. | For both sides, the district has taken on symbolic significance, our correspondent says. |
| UK Foreign Secretary William Hague urged Syria to abandon plans for a ground offensive and allow in humanitarian agencies, saying the assault was "doomed to fail". | |
| "I call on those Syrians who are being ordered to attack their fellow citizens to make a choice and to lay down their arms," Mr Hague said. "Those who do not do so will be held to account for their actions." | |
| A Spanish reporter who had been trapped in Homs has now reached Lebanon safely. Javier Espinosa, Middle East correspondent for El Mundo, was part of a group of foreign journalists who were in a makeshift media centre when it was shelled last week. | |
| Two other journalists, one of them seriously wounded, are still believed to be in Homs. The French government has said it stands ready to evacuate Edith Bouvier and William Daniels, who were on assignment for Le Figaro. | |
| "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. | "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. |
| Two of their colleagues were killed, and Ms Bouvier was seriously wounded, along with British photojournalist Paul Conroy. | 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". | 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 push | Aid push |
| 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. | 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. |
| However, it also suggests that Mr Assad is responsible for the crisis, Western diplomats say. | However, it 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". |
| 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 text, which is still in its early stages, focuses on humanitarian aid for Syria, in the hope both China and Russia will back it. |
| They vetoed earlier Security Council resolutions in October and February, out of concerns that UN action could trigger Libya-style regime change. | They vetoed earlier Security Council resolutions in October and February, out of concerns that UN action could trigger Libya-style regime change. |
| China has indicated it is in favour of creating conditions for aid to be sent. | China has indicated it is in favour of creating conditions for aid to be sent. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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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