Calls for international coalition to support Syria's opposition

The United States has proposed an international coalition to support Syria’s opposition after Russia and China blocked a U.N. attempt to end nearly 11 months of bloodshed, raising fears that violence will escalate.

Rebel soldiers said force was now the only way to oust President Bashar Assad, while the regime vowed to press its military crackdown.

The threat of both sides turning to greater force after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution raises the potential for Syria’s turmoil to move into an even more dangerous new phase that could degenerate into outright civil war.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is calling for nations that are "friends of democractic Syria" to unite and take action to encourage President Bashar al-Assad to leave office.
She said the Russian and Chinese veto of a UN Security Council draft resolution on Syria was "a travesty" that had "neutered" the United Nations.
Speaking in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, she called for renewed action to bring democracy to Syria.
The British Government was also stinging in its criticism of the veto, it was "appalled" by the failure of the Security Council to act.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague told Britain's "Sky News" that he fears the violence will continue.
As the rhetoric continues so does the violence. Gunfire continued to ring out Sunday in several neighbourhoods of Homs, and at least 23 people were killed in the city and nearby towns, including three children. Listen