Anger as Assad shells civilians killing 240

Published on Sunday 5 February 2012 00:00

INTERNATIONAL leaders condemned Syrian president Bashar al-Assad last night after reports that hundreds had been killed when his military had shelled civilians in a brutal outbreak of violence in the city of Homs.

Foreign Secretary William Hague joined the criticism and there were protests outside Syrian embassies around the world, including London.

The growing anger followed what is thought to be the bloodiest day of the 11-month crackdown in Syria with a death toll of at least 240 after troops shelled Homs.

Last night at the United Nations in New York a resolution calling for the immediate removal of Assad and an end to the violence was blocked by Russia and China.

Afterwards Hague said: “Russia and China faced a simple choice today: would they support the people of Syria and the Arab League or not?

“They decided not to, and instead sided with the Syrian regime and its brutal suppression of the Syrian people in support of their own national interests.”

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, warned that the move increased the risk of more bloodshed that could result in civil war.

The Syrian government yesterday denied any devastating bombardment took place, saying the high death tolls were part of a “hysterical campaign” of incitement by its opponents to pressure UN action.

In London 12 people were arrested in angry clashes with police outside the Syrian embassy.