Syria crisis: Homs comes under heavy bombardment

Images appear to show bombing in Baba Amr district of Homs  

Rebel-held areas of the central Syrian city of Homs are coming under intense bombardment from the Syrian army.

Anti-government activists report that 12 people have been killed so far on Tuesday and 100 injured. This cannot be independently confirmed.
Activists have been warning of additional government forces around Homs, ahead of a possible ground assault on the city.
Thousands have died in Syria in an 11-month uprising against the government.
The BBC's Jim Muir, who is monitoring events from neighbouring Lebanon, says the bombardment is the heaviest for some days, with several shells landing every minute.
Reports from the city say the field hospital has been hit, and video footage appears to show tanks moving through Homs.
Our correspondent says it is unclear if the bombardment is the precursor to a much-feared ground assault on the Baba Amr district of the city. Buildings have been flattened in today's shelling, he says.

“Start Quote

I'm trying to leave the area because of the gunfire and heavy shelling - this is a large scale military assault on defenceless civilians”

End Quote Omar Anti-government activist near Homs

The Syrian government says it is acting to clear out pockets of "armed terrorist gangs" - its term for the rebel fighters.

There are believed to be several hundred fighters from the rebel Free Syrian Army in Baba Amr, and correspondents say it is not clear whether they would put up resistance or melt away.