THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Syrian troops advanced on Wednesday on a key rebel-held area in the central city of Homs, where three Western journalists are among 100,000 residents trapped by a government assault that has raged for weeks.
The forces appeared to be starting a ground operation to retake the area that has become a symbol of the uprising to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
Government forces have been heavily shelling Homs, and particularly the rebel-controlled Baba Amr neighbourhood, for more than three weeks with tanks, artillery and rockets.
The announcement by a Syrian official of the new troop advance indicated a ground assault was beginning to recapture Baba Amr, home to about 100,000 people.
A Syrian official vowed Baba Amr would be "cleaned" within hours. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. » | AP | Wednesday, February 29, 2012
