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Gunmen 'kill three' at Syrian pro-Assad Ikhbariya TV Gunmen 'kill three' at Syrian pro-Assad Ikhbariya TV
(40 minutes later)
Gunmen have attacked a Syrian pro-government TV channel, killing three people, state media say.Gunmen have attacked a Syrian pro-government TV channel, killing three people, state media say.
The attack on Ikhbariya TV south of Damascus blew up the newsroom, Sana news agency reported.The attack on Ikhbariya TV south of Damascus blew up the newsroom, Sana news agency reported.
Hours earlier, President Bashar al-Assad said Syria was in "a real state of war" and all policies and all sectors had to focus on winning. Hours earlier, President Bashar al-Assad said Syria was in "a real state of war" and US intelligence officials predicted a long, drawn-out struggle.
US intelligence officials believe that despite some recent defections, his inner circle is still loyal to him. UN human rights investigators, in their latest report, say the conflict is descending into civil war.
'Cold blood''Cold blood'
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says that Syrian TV dropped normal programming on Wednesday to run live coverage of the attack on the headquarters of Ikhbariya TV in the town of Drusha, some 20km (14 miles) south of the capital.The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says that Syrian TV dropped normal programming on Wednesday to run live coverage of the attack on the headquarters of Ikhbariya TV in the town of Drusha, some 20km (14 miles) south of the capital.
State TV showed pictures of burnt and wrecked buildings, with fires still smouldering.State TV showed pictures of burnt and wrecked buildings, with fires still smouldering.
Syria's information minister, on a visit to the site, said the three victims had been abducted, bound, and killed in cold blood.Syria's information minister, on a visit to the site, said the three victims had been abducted, bound, and killed in cold blood.
On Monday, the station was targeted by EU sanctions.On Monday, the station was targeted by EU sanctions.
The attack comes after fierce clashes in suburbs of the capital Damascus described by opposition activists as the worst there so far. Dozens of people were killed.The attack comes after fierce clashes in suburbs of the capital Damascus described by opposition activists as the worst there so far. Dozens of people were killed.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighting took place near positions of the Republican Guard which is led by President Assad's younger brother Maher and has the role of protecting the capital.The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighting took place near positions of the Republican Guard which is led by President Assad's younger brother Maher and has the role of protecting the capital.
In a separate development, Syrian sources said that a senior air force officer, Maj-Gen Faraj Shehadeh, was abducted by armed men from his home in Damascus.
Our correspondent says the latest violence gives added point to Mr Assad's description of Syria as in "a state or war" just a few hours before.Our correspondent says the latest violence gives added point to Mr Assad's description of Syria as in "a state or war" just a few hours before.
Addressing his new cabinet, the president criticised countries that have been calling for him to stand down, saying that the West "takes and never gives and this has been proven at every stage".Addressing his new cabinet, the president criticised countries that have been calling for him to stand down, saying that the West "takes and never gives and this has been proven at every stage".
'Seesaw battle''Seesaw battle'
Senior US intelligence officials have described the conflict between the rebels and the government as a "seesaw battle", suggesting that it likely to be a long drawn-out, struggle.Senior US intelligence officials have described the conflict between the rebels and the government as a "seesaw battle", suggesting that it likely to be a long drawn-out, struggle.
"The regime inner circle and those at the next level still seem to be holding fairly firm in support of the regime and Assad," one official was quoted by Reuters as saying during a briefing to reporters."The regime inner circle and those at the next level still seem to be holding fairly firm in support of the regime and Assad," one official was quoted by Reuters as saying during a briefing to reporters.
Recent defections were described as low or mid-level.Recent defections were described as low or mid-level.
Earlier this week, a general and two colonels were said to have fled to Turkey with 30 other Syrian soldiers.Earlier this week, a general and two colonels were said to have fled to Turkey with 30 other Syrian soldiers.
The UN's human rights council is due to hear its latest report on Syria on Wednesday, including its findings on the Houla massacre. Human rights investigators have released their latest report on Syria, including their findings on the Houla massacre.
A commission of inquiry has been investigating human rights violations in the conflict and its chairman, Paulo Pinheiro, was able to enter the country for the first time on Monday. A commission of inquiry, which has been investigating human rights violations for the UN Human Rights Council, says that what began as government suppression of peaceful demonstrators has turned, in many areas, into civil war.
The Geneva-based UN council called on the commission earlier this month to find out who carried out last month's killings in Houla in which 108 people died.The Geneva-based UN council called on the commission earlier this month to find out who carried out last month's killings in Houla in which 108 people died.
UN investigator and author of the report Karen Abuzayd told the BBC that "there is the possibility of three different groups who may have done this".
She said that government forces were responsible for the initial shelling in which some people died. But what she called the "massacre" afterwards in people's homes was done either by militiamen from Alawite villages - known as shabiha - or possibly by armed opposition groups.
Annan conference
In April, following months of bloodshed, the Syrian government agreed to a six-point peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. UN monitors were deployed to Syria to oversee a ceasefire but the truce never took hold.In April, following months of bloodshed, the Syrian government agreed to a six-point peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. UN monitors were deployed to Syria to oversee a ceasefire but the truce never took hold.
On Tuesday Russia said its Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, would attend an international conference on Syria which Mr Annan hopes to hold in Geneva on 30 June to revive his peace plan.On Tuesday Russia said its Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, would attend an international conference on Syria which Mr Annan hopes to hold in Geneva on 30 June to revive his peace plan.
However, Moscow is insisting that Iran also be allowed to attend, a move strongly opposed by the US and its allies.However, Moscow is insisting that Iran also be allowed to attend, a move strongly opposed by the US and its allies.
The UN says at least 10,000 people have died in the uprising that began in March 2011. The Syrian government says 6,143 Syrian citizens have been killed by "terrorist groups" since.The UN says at least 10,000 people have died in the uprising that began in March 2011. The Syrian government says 6,143 Syrian citizens have been killed by "terrorist groups" since.
The main rebel fighting group, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), has become increasingly better organised - and armed - and is in effective control of swathes of Idlib province and parts of Aleppo province in the north.The main rebel fighting group, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), has become increasingly better organised - and armed - and is in effective control of swathes of Idlib province and parts of Aleppo province in the north.
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