Syrians storm their missions in many countries - AL wants Syrian envoys expelled BEIRUT — Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution backing calls for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down, despite international outrage Saturday over a devastating bombardment of the city of Homs by his regime's forces. Activists said more than 200 were killed in the bloodiest episode of the nearly 11-month uprising. The overnight onslaught on restive neighborhoods in Homs, Syria's third largest city, signaled a willingness by Assad's regime to bring a new level of violence to stamp out an opposition that has grown increasingly bold and armed. Its timing, hours before a planned vote on the UN resolution, suggested Assad was confident of his ally Russia's protection. Residents of Homs on Saturday described a night of ceaseless bombardment by mortars and rockets that lasted until dawn, sending them fleeing to lower floors and basements. When daylight came, dozens of buildings were left punctured by shells, facades collapsed, and some streets were stained with blood. Thousands gathered for a funeral ceremony for some of the victims in the worst hit neighborhood, Khaldiyeh, where more than 60 coffins and bodies in white shrouds were lined up in a park, according to footage of the scene. “A few more nights like this one and Homs will be erased from the map,” Ammar, a resident, said, speaking on condition that only his first name be used for fear he and his family could be targeted. “We are being massacred.” Angry Syrians stormed their embassies in Berlin, London, Athens, Cairo and Kuwait city, clashing with guards and — in Cairo — setting fire to part of the embassy. The Syrian government denied any bombardment took place, saying the high death tolls were opposition propaganda and the bodies were those of people who had been kidnapped previously by “terrorists.” The bloodshed added heat to negotiations that have been going on for days, as Western and Arab nations tried to overcome Russia's opposition to the resolution. The measure would have backed an Arab call for Assad to hand over his powers to his vice president and allow formation of a unity government. “The Assad regime must come to an end,” US President Barack Obama said in a statement Saturday before the vote, calling on the Security Council to “stand against the Assad regime's relentless brutality.” But Russia demanded further changes be made, saying the draft did not make enough demands on the armed opposition in Syria and calls for Assad to step aside could wreck chances for a negotiated solution to the country's upheaval. In the end, the resolution's proponents pushed ahead with a vote, challenging Moscow to veto or back down. After the veto, US Ambassador Susan Rice said her country was “disgusted” by the vote. Meanwhile, the Arab League's parliaments chief has called on member states to expel pro-regime Syrian ambassadors.
