Terrorists shell residential areas in Homs

An image grab taken from a YouTube video uploaded on January 31, 2012 shows an oil pipeline burning in the Baba Amr neighborhood of the restive city of Homs following a terrorist attack

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/224303.html

At least 20 people have been injured as terrorist groups shell several residential areas in the Syrian city of Homs, where violent clashes between security forces and armed gangs continue to take their toll, Press TV reports.

Witnesses say terrorists fired shells at al-Zahra and al-Nezha neighborhoods in Homs on Wednesday and several homes and schools were hit.

The London-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said 15 soldiers were also killed during clashes in the restive central city.

At least 15 people, including a top military commander, were killed by armed gangs in a northern suburb of the Syrian capital, Press TV's correspondent in Damascus reported.

The clashes come as the West is making attempts to convince Russia not to veto a draft Security Council resolution calling on President Bashar al-Assad to step down.

Russia has repeatedly expressed opposition to any UN resolution that would justify sanctions or the use of force against Syria, describing negotiations as the only way to end months of unrest in the country.

China, another veto- -wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, has also expressed opposition to the draft resolution based on concerns that this could eventually lead to a military action against Syria, similar to the NATO attacks on Libya in March 2011.