Syrian government forces are continuing to attack rebel-held neighborhoods in the flashpoint city of Homs, despite a near week-old cease-fire brokered by the international community.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad Wednesday resumed heavy shelling in the central city that has been battered by artillery for weeks.
The Observatory, an opposition group that aggregates casualty reports from activists inside Syria, said pro-Assad troops killed at least nine civilians Tuesday as attacks appeared to be expanding to other areas.
The Syrian government says it has the right to attack what it calls terrorists.
The attacks come as a U.N. mission is attempting to monitor cease-fire conditions.
Moroccan Col. Ahmed Himiche, head of an advance team of six U.N. observers that arrived in Syria this week, said the group's first field trip came Tuesday to the southern city of Daraa. The Observatory has reported protracted fighting between rebels and Syrian soldiers.
Himiche did not address the the violence in comments to reporters.
“Our mission is to build a relationship among the Syrian forces, the authorities and the other parties as well. We will try to link with all the parties since our mission is a technical one, basically it is building connections with all the parties.”
Himiche said he expects an additional two dozen unarmed monitors in Syria by Thursday.
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon is intensifying efforts to get a large contingent of observers on the ground to salvage the truce. He said a team of 250 monitors, as originally envisioned, may not be sufficient. He also has asked the European Union for planes and helicopters to make the mission more effective.
Diplomats say an expanded observer mission is contingent on a verifiable cessation of hostilities.
In Beijing, Syria's foreign minister pledged to respect the peace plan brokered by U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan and to cooperate with the observer team.
China's foreign ministry quoted Walid Muallem as telling his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, that “Syria would continue to …respect and implement Mr. Annan's six-point proposal.”
Muallem also said Damascus remained committed to implementing the cease-fire, withdrawing troops and cooperating with U.N. monitors. Meanwhile, world powers are considering tightening economic pressure on Syria.
In Moscow, Morocco's foreign minister urged Russia to press the Syrian government to adhere to the cease-fire and withdraw forces from cities in accordance with Mr. Annan's peace plan.
Russia has provided Syria's government with weapons and – along with China – shielded Mr. Assad by blocking U.N. Security Council resolutions condemning his government for a crackdown which the U.N. says has killed more than 9,000 people since March 2011.
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