Activists report Homs buildup

Security forces were believed to be sending reinforcements to the city ahead of a referendum on a new constitution to be held on February 26.

"Infantry troops arrived yesterday [Sunday] in Homs," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told the news agency Agence France-Presse.

Homs-based activist Hadi Abdullah of the General Commission of the Syrian Revolution said there were fears of an imminent attack on Baba Amr, the rebel stronghold in Homs. Abdullah spoke of "unprecedented military reinforcements coming from Damascus."

Another Syria-based activist, Mustafa Osso, told news agency Associated Press that three columns of army reinforcements including tanks were seen heading towards the restive city.

Security forces continued their bombardment of Homs on Sunday for a 15th straight day. Activists and Syrian state media reported at least 14 people were killed in the latest shelling. Hundreds of people have been killed in the prolonged assault on the city, and more than 6,000 have been killed since Syria's uprising began 11 months ago, activists say.

Capital lockdown

Security forces in Damascus, meanwhile, held their positions overnight after their deployment over the weekend following the capital's biggest anti-regime protests to date.

Troops were stationed near government buildings and in residential areas, Damascus-based activist Mohamed al-Aliaa told news agency dpa. Army checkpoints have also been set up in the suburb of Mazzeh, which houses numerous embassies.

Police vehicles and militia jeeps were patrolling the neighborhood and security agents were out on foot stopping men at random to check their identification, reports said.

The heavy police deployment was aimed at stopping any protests in the capital before they started. Activists had said that "huge protests" would be held in the city.

Funerals for slain protesters have often turned into protests, as was the case on Saturday when people were mourning the deaths of four people - two of them teenagers - who had been killed the previous day.

As the government of President Assad steps up pressure on opposition groups within the country, outside it the international community has continued to broaden dialogue in a bid to put an end to the ongoing violence. The opposition Syrian National Council said Monday it would attend the "Friends of Syria" conference due to be held in Tunisia on Friday, despite reported objections by Russia and China.

International efforts to end the violence have been stalled by Russia and China, who have vetoed resolutions condemning the violence in the UN Security Council. Chinese Foreign Minister Zhai Jun met with President Assad on Saturday, expressing support for his plan to hold a referendum and multi-party elections within four months - plans which Western countries have denounced as a farce.

dfm/slk (AFP, AP, Reuters)