Assad forces continue bombardment of rebel areas

Syrian opposition activists have accused forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad of bombarding rebel areas, as a UN mission was expected to arrive in Damascus in a first step in the implementation of an international peace plan.

Activists said at least 80 people have been killed since Tuesday despite the imminent arrival of the advance team from the UN peacekeeping department.

The advance mission is part of the latest international effort to end a year of bloodshed.

Activists said troops and police loyal to Assad pressed on with a campaign of raids and arrests in rebel areas, accompanied by bombardments, gun battles and sniper attacks.

“Since this morning they have been shelling Khalidiya neighbourhood, that is in its 17th day,” Hadi Abdullah said by telephone from Homs, the city of one million which suffered most in the bloody 12-month uprising.

“Whatever it is that hits the area leaves a horrible sulphur smell, like rotten eggs.”

Human rights group Amnesty International said it had counted 232 deaths since Syria accepted Annan’s plan on Mar 27.

The UN says Assad’s forces have killed more than 9,000 people.

The mission, headed by Norwegian General Robert Mood, is part of efforts to implement a deal between Assad and international mediator Kofi Annan for an Apr 10 withdrawal of Syrian forces, to be followed by a ceasefire by rebels within 48 hours.

During the visit, it is expected to discuss deploying some 250 UN monitors to oversee a ceasefire. But his acceptance of a troop withdrawal has met scepticism.

“The Syrian authorities have said they will do that by April 10,” British foreign secretary William Hague said. “There is no sign of them doing it so far... The murder, oppression, and torture of the regime has continued .”