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February 8, 2012

Syria: Dozens Killed as Homs Siege Continues 
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Syrian forces are continuing their deadly assault on the flashpoint city
of Homs in a bid to crush a center of resistance to the regime of
President Bashar al-Assad. Witnesses say dozens of people were killed
overnight in continued shelling and rocket attacks from Syrian tanks. In
Washington, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland chided Syrian
allies Russia and China for backing Assad.

Victoria Nuland: "Well, we've made absolutely clear how we feel
bilaterally and publicly about regimes that continue to trade arms with
the Syrian government, they're simply fueling the violence. If in fact
Assad supports the end of violence he knows what he can do today which
he has neglected for these 11 months. He can stop the attacks by his
forces on innocents in cities across Syria and the violence continues in
Homs, in Hama, around the outskirts of Damascus, etcetera. as so many of
you are now able to report."

The assault on Homs comes amidst a visit to Syria by Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov. On Tuesday, Lavrov said Assad is ready to end
the violence despite the ongoing bloodshed in Homs.



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