Syria clashes blight ceasefire hopes

Fresh clashes have broken out in Syria despite the passing of a UN-backed deadline for a complete withdrawal of government troops and weapons.

11 people had been killed on Tuesday. Damascus planed by withdrawing some troops. Damascus agreed on the dateline, Tuesday, but on Sunday demanded written guarantees first that its opponent give up arms and foreign states not to fund them. Mr Muallem said that Syria would only stop killing civilians "when these groups stop killing". He also accused Turkey of supplying militant groups with weapons and allowing them to cross its borders.Russia is one of Syria's closest allies and as a permanent member of the UN Security Council has vetoed resolutions condemning Damascus.

'Assad thugs'

6 civillians were killed by fresh shelling in Homs on Tuesday and 1 shot dead in the city. 4 people were killed in Kfar Zeita in central Hama province. Mr Annan visited some Turkish camps on Tuesday  after several people in 1 camp were injured by shots fired across the border inside Syria. 2 people were shot dead as the approached the border from the Syrian side.

The UN says more than 9,000 people have been killed against the uprising of Mr Assad’s rule which began more than a year ago. In February, Syrian government put the death toll at 3,838( 2,494 – civilians, 1,345 – Security forces personnel).