Shelling 'resumes in central Syria'

Syrian troops have resumed their shelling of residential neighbourhoods dominated by rebels in the central city of Homs, activists say.

The reported shelling is threatening a UN-brokered ceasefire and comes hours after the UN Security Council voted unanimously to dispatch a first team of monitors to Syria to shore up the shaky truce.

The Local Co-ordination Committees activist network said shells falling at the rate of six each minute shook the neighbourhood of Khaldiyeh this morning.

Homs-based activists said other districts including Bayada, Jouret el-Shayah, Qarabees and Qusour were also being shelled.

The regime restricts access of foreign observers, including journalists, making it difficult to verify reports of violence independently.