Syrian troops hit rebel strongholds

Syrian troops attacked rebel strongholds in Deraa where the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad erupted nearly a year ago, and the UN chief said crimes against humanity had almost certainly been committed in Syria.

The assault on Deraa followed a thrust against rebels in the cities of Hama and Homs, which has faced nearly two weeks of bombardment from Assad’s forces, in an apparent campaign to crush the revolt against his repressive rule.

Assad has intensified a crackdown on protesters and insurgents, while also setting a February 26 referendum on a draft constitution that would formally end the Baath Party’s monopoly on power, to be followed by a multi-party parliamentary election.