Syrian state TV reports car bombing in Homs

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian forces pressed a relentless assault on the protest city of Homs Wednesday, February 8 with dozens of civilians reported killed, hours after President Bashar al-Assad said he was committed to ending the bloodshed.

The barrage of gunfire, mortars and shells was launched at daybreak and continued during the day. State television said a car bomb had ripped through the central city, killing and wounding civilians as well as security officers.

The blast hit the neighbourhood of Bayada, the television reported, blaming "armed terrorist gangs." If confirmed, the attack would be the first of its kind in Homs.

It came as Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin insisted any outside intervention to stop the violence would be akin to behaving "like a bull in a china shop."

But France and Britain dismissed Moscow's efforts to end nearly 11 months of bloodshed in Syria and cast doubt on Assad's claim that he was "fully committed" to resolving the crisis.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said at least 62 people were killed across the country on Wednesday, including 50 in Homs, AFP reported.