Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    December 26, 2011

Activists: Syrian Violence Kills 13 in Homs Region

   VOA News

   Activists say new violence by Syrian security forces has killed at
   least 13 people in the city of Homs ahead of a planned visit by Arab
   League monitors.
   The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the Baba Amr
   district of Homs was being hit by shelling and machinegun fire Monday,
   a day before Arab League monitors are scheduled to visit the city.
   About 50 observers are due to arrive in Syria Monday to monitor
   compliance with a League plan that would halt the government's bloody
   suppression of a nine-month uprising against the rule of President
   Bashar al-Assad.
   France, and the opposition Syrian National Council, are urging the
   monitors to go immediately to Homs, and not wait for Tuesday.
   Syria agreed to the Arab League plan under international pressure.
   The United Nations estimates 5,000 people have been killed in violence
   linked to the uprising since it began in March with protests against
   Assad's 11-year autocratic rule. Syria says "armed terrorists" are
   driving the revolt and accuses them of killing 2,000 security personnel
   during that period.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
   Join the conversation on our social journalism site - [1]Middle East
   Voices. Follow our Middle East reports on [2]Twitter and discuss them
   on our [3]Facebook page.

References

   1. http://middleeastvoices.com/
   2. http://twitter.com/VOAMiddleEast
   3. http://www.facebook.com/pages/VOAMiddleEastVoices/124360240958667?%20%20%20%20v=wall

.