UN outraged as Syrian security forces brutally bomb Homs

Syrian forces bombarded opposition-held neighborhoods of the city of Homs with rocket and mortar fire on Thursday, activists said, as divided world powers struggled to find a way to end the violence.

The United Nations chief condemned the ferocity of the government assault on Homs, (more…)

Amnesty: Syria veto a ’shockingly callous betrayal’

Russia and China’s veto on Saturday of a UN resolution on the bloodshed in Syria is a ’shockingly callous betrayal’ of the Syrian people, Amnesty International said.

Moscow and Beijing have acted in a ‘completely irresponsible’ way, the London-based human rights group added. (more…)

Russia to propose changes to UN Syria draft: envoys

U.N. Security Council envoys awaited proposed amendments from Moscow on Friday to the latest version of a European-Arab draft resolution endorsing an Arab League plan for Syria, and envoys said the issue would be decided by Russia and the United States. (more…)

U.N. council close to deal on Syria draft: envoys

Several U.N. Security Council members said they were close to a deal on Thursday on the wording of a draft resolution backing an Arab League plan for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step aside, but it was unclear if Russia would agree to it. (more…)

UN deadlock breakthrough hopes raised over Syria resolution

Hopes for a breakthrough on the deadlock over a UN Security Council resolution on Syria rose as references to regime change were dropped to overcome Russian objections to the Western-backed draft motion . (more…)

Exile becoming a realistic possibility for Syria’s Assad

The United States, European governments and Arab states have begun discussing the possibility of exile for Bashar al-Assad despite skepticism the defiant Syrian president is ready to consider such an offer, Western officials said on Wednesday. (more…)

Palestinians in Gaza Hurl Shoes at Visiting UN Chief

Palestinians tried to block the U.N. chief from entering the Gaza Strip and flung shoes at his armored convoy on Thursday, the second day of Ban Ki-moon’s mission to the region to keep informal peace talks alive.

About 40 relatives of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails for a range of violent attacks gathered at the Erez Crossing between Gaza and Israel, hoisting posters with pictures of their loved ones and signs in English and Arabic reading, “Ban Ki-moon, enough bias to Israel.” (more…)

Russia would veto UN resolution deemed unacceptable on Syria

Russia’s envoy to the United Nations reportedly said Wednesday that the country would veto any U.N. resolution on Syria that it deemed unacceptable.

Reuters reported that Russia would veto any draft resolution calling on President Bashar Al Assad to leave his post unless the document makes clear that there would be no military intervention. (more…)

Russia Stands in the Way of U.N. Call for Assad to Step Down

UNITED NATIONS — The battle over Syria moved to the United Nations on Tuesday as Western powers and much of the Arab world confronted Russia and its allies in the Security Council over their refusal to condemn the Syrian government for its violent suppression of popular protests. (more…)

Clinton urges action to end Syria violence

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is telling the Security Council that action to end the violence in Syria would be different from U.N. efforts to pacify Libya. (more…)