6-Feb-2012 - Syria troops step up Homs bombing

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6 February 2012 Last updated at 09:55 GMT Syria crisis: Army steps up shelling in Homs Heavy artillery fire has been rocking Homs, as Syrian troops step up an assault on the restive city. A BBC correspondent there says attacks resumed early on Monday with almost constant explosions. Rebels say a clinic is being targeted in one of the fiercest assaults on the city in the 11-month uprising. Meanwhile, Russia and China defended their veto of a UN draft resolution criticising Syria - a move that angered opponents of President Bashar al-Assad. The BBC's Paul Wood, who managed to get into Homs, says shelling resumed there at 06:00 (04:00 GMT). Some rebels fighters are firing automatic weapons in return, in what our correspondent calls a futile gesture. He says it is impossible to verify claims that a field clinic run by the rebels is being targeted by government forces. The facility is treating dozens of people wounded in previous assaults on Homs. An anti-government campaigner told the BBC the government was NFL jerseys china also using helicopters and tanks in the assault. Fifteen people are said to have been killed so far on Monday. Our correspondent says the dead are being buried at night for fear of snipers taking aim at mourners. At least 28 civilians were killed by security forces across Syria on Sunday, mainly in Homs, according to the London-based campaign group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 'Travesty' Some residents fear Saturday's veto by China and Russia of a UN draft resolution condemning the crackdown will encourage the government to act without restraint. The Syrian National Council, the biggest opposition group, said Russia and China were "responsible for the escalating acts of killing", calling the veto "an irresponsible step that is tantamount to a licence to kill with impunity". US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on Sunday called it a "travesty" and expressed support for the Syrian opposition. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the resolution, drafted by Arab and European countries, would have meant taking sides in a civil war. Speaking in Bahrain on Monday, he said encouraging "armed extremist groups" would only cause more casualties, and custom nfl jerseys said Moscow supported peaceful dialogue in Syria. Mr Lavrov is due to travel to Damascus on Tuesday for talks with President Assad. The Chinese government also defended its veto. It said the draft resolution would only have complicated matters, and said Beijing sought to "avoid the scourge of armed conflict". Human rights groups and activists say more than 7,000 people have been killed by Syrian security forces since the uprising began last March. The UN stopped estimating the death toll in Syria after it passed 5,400 in January, saying it was too difficult to confirm. President Assad's government says at least 2,000 members of the security forces have been killed fighting "armed gangs and terrorists". 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. Read the terms and conditions (Required) Name (Required) Your E-mail address (Required) Town & Country (Required) Your telephone number (Required) Comments If you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist please leave a telephone number that we can contact you on. In some cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name as you provide it and location, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. When sending us pictures, video or eyewitness accounts at no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks NFL JERSEYS or infringe any laws. Please ensure you have read the terms and conditions. Terms and conditions Send Clear

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