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    November 04, 2011

Syrian Forces Renew Shelling in Homs

   VOA News

   Syrian forces killed at least three people in Homs early Friday, as
   opposition leaders called for mass protests to test the government's
   commitment to a new peace plan.
   Activists say the three civilians died after Syrian forces in tanks
   renewed artillery fire in the flashpoint Baba Amr district of Homs. On
   Thursday, activists blamed pro-government forces for at least 12 deaths
   in the city.
   The opposition Local Coordination Committees urged opponents of
   President Bashar al-Assad to take to the streets after Friday prayers
   with new calls for his departure.
   On Wednesday, the Arab League brokered a plan to halt violence and
   convene talks between the government and the opposition. However,
   Thursday's deaths and military action cast doubt on a quick
   implementation of the plan.
   In Cairo Thursday, members of the opposition Syrian National Council
   met with the Arab League chief to discuss the way forward.
   Council member Samir al-Nashar said the group did not discuss possible
   dialogue with the Syrian government but instead asked that Assad step
   down. The SNC then offered to "engage in negotiations" to move from an
   authoritarian government to a democratic one.
   The United Nations says the number of people killed during the
   eight-month-old uprising against Assad has topped 3,000.
   The Syrian government has blamed much of the unrest - including deadly
   violence in Homs this week - on "terrorists" and gunmen.

   Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

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