Syrian forces bomb Homs

Syrian forces resumed their bombardment of the city of Homs on Monday after Arab countries called for U.N. peacekeepers and pledged their firm support for the opposition battling President Bashar al-Assad. Opposition campaigners said tank fire was concentrated on two large Sunni Muslim neighbourhoods that have been at the forefront of opposition to Assad. They said 23 people were killed on Sunday, prompting street demonstrations across the country in support of Homs.

The assault on Homs has spurred Arab countries to ostracise Assad and promise tougher action. At a meeting in Cairo on Sunday, Arab League foreign ministers pledged for the first time to aid the opposition battling to overthrow Assad, from Syria’s Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam that has dominated the country since Alawite officers expanded their influence in the military and took power five decades ago. The League also called on the U.N. Security Council to authorise a peacekeeping force, a challenge to Russia and China which have so far used their veto power to block action by the world body, most recently on Feb 4.