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Syrian forces pound Homs
Syrian forces renewed their bombardment of parts of the shattered city of Homs and for a second day blocked Red Cross aid for civilians stranded without food and fuel.
Homs activists and rebel forces have been decimated by Syrian bombing in the rebel stronghold.
Syrian army tanks have been deployed in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor to confront a growing rebel force there, setting up another possible flashpoint apart from the devastated city of Homs.
Anti-government activists accused government troops of launching the renewed attack on Homs to punish people in the city, seen as a symbol of the year-long revolt, and arresting hundreds across the country. "In an act of pure revenge, Assad's army has been firing mortar rounds and ... machine guns since this morning at Jobar," said the Syrian Network for Human Rights, referring to a district next to Baba Amro, where rebels had faced nearly a month of siege and shelling before fleeing Thursday.
"We have no immediate reports of casualties because of the difficulty of communications," the campaign group said in a statement.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon earlier said he had received "grisly reports" troops were executing and torturing people in Homs after insurgents abandoned their positions.
Syria's government says it is fighting foreign-backed "terrorists" whom it blames for killing hundreds of soldiers and police across the country.
The United Nations says Syrian security forces have killed more than 7,500 civilians since the revolt against Assad's rule began in March last year.
Opposition sources said Syrian army tanks had started massing in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor to support pro-Assad forces there who had come under attack from Free Syrian Army rebels. "Old Russian T-54 tanks and armoured vehicles have taken positions at main roundabouts. Every half an hour or so you hear gunfire by the Free Syrian Army directed at roadblocks manned by security police and 'shabbiha' (pro-Assad militia)," Abu Abdel Rahman said.
