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Syria conflict: Qusair in heavy bombardment by army | Syria conflict: Qusair in heavy bombardment by army |
(about 1 hour later) | |
There has been an upsurge in fighting in the strategic Syrian town of Qusair, both sides in the conflict say. | There has been an upsurge in fighting in the strategic Syrian town of Qusair, both sides in the conflict say. |
The army, which began an offensive to recapture Qusair last Sunday, says it has now launched a three-pronged attack on the rebel-held town. | The army, which began an offensive to recapture Qusair last Sunday, says it has now launched a three-pronged attack on the rebel-held town. |
The rebels say they are under heavy bombardment from Lebanese Hezbollah militants, who back Syria's government. | The rebels say they are under heavy bombardment from Lebanese Hezbollah militants, who back Syria's government. |
Meanwhile the main opposition group has said it will attend a peace conference only if the Syrian leader steps down. | Meanwhile the main opposition group has said it will attend a peace conference only if the Syrian leader steps down. |
The international conference, which Russia and the US are attempting to convene, would take place in Geneva next month. | The international conference, which Russia and the US are attempting to convene, would take place in Geneva next month. |
The opposition said it welcomed the conference but demanded that President Bashar al-Assad leave power first. | The opposition said it welcomed the conference but demanded that President Bashar al-Assad leave power first. |
A spokesman for the National Coalition, Louay Safi, told the BBC: "We would like to find a political solution. But we don't want to be deceived again by this regime, which has deceived us many times. | A spokesman for the National Coalition, Louay Safi, told the BBC: "We would like to find a political solution. But we don't want to be deceived again by this regime, which has deceived us many times. |
Previous efforts to find a political solution to the conflict have foundered on preconditions from the two sides. | Previous efforts to find a political solution to the conflict have foundered on preconditions from the two sides. |
Hezbollah warned | |
Correspondents say Qusair is a strategic conduit for weapons and fighters channelled from Lebanon, about 10km (six miles) away. | |
The town is also important for President Assad because it is located between Damascus and the Alawite heartland of the embattled government on the Mediterreanean coast. | |
The week-long fighting in Qusair intensified early on Saturday, when activists reported heavy bombardments, including two ground-to-ground missiles and an air strike as well as artillery and rocket fire. | |
They say Hezbollah fighters, who are widely reported to have played a major role in the attack on Sunday, were trying to advance again. | They say Hezbollah fighters, who are widely reported to have played a major role in the attack on Sunday, were trying to advance again. |
"I've never seen a day like this since the battle started," said activist Malek Ammar told Reuters news agency from the town. "It's like they're trying to destroy the city house by house." | |
Syrian state media said the army had launched a three-pronged offensive in the north, centre and south of the town, and was making big advances, killing many rebel fighters. | Syrian state media said the army had launched a three-pronged offensive in the north, centre and south of the town, and was making big advances, killing many rebel fighters. |
However, the official media made no mention of the part played by Hezbollah. | |
The Lebanese group is also known to have lost a number of fighters in Qusair, prompting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to warn the Shia militia against getting "bogged down in the sands of discord". | The Lebanese group is also known to have lost a number of fighters in Qusair, prompting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to warn the Shia militia against getting "bogged down in the sands of discord". |
The violence in Qusair has sparked clashes in Lebanon itself, with fighting between opponents and supporters of Mr Assad in the northern city of Tripoli. | |
More than 25 people are reported to have been killed there in recent days. The fighting is also reported to have intensified on Saturday. | |
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is due to give his first public comments on the group's involvement in Qusair later on Saturday. | Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is due to give his first public comments on the group's involvement in Qusair later on Saturday. |