The use of heavy weaponry on civilian neighborhoods in Homs, is “ shredding President Assad’s claims to speak for the Syrian people” UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said Wednesday, stopping short of calling on the embattled Syrian leader to step down. Ban said he feared reports of worsening violence…

Western diplomats slammed Russia and China for blocking an Arab League plan to end the crisis in Syria Saturday, after a week of intense negotiations yet again failed to produce a resolution condemning the Assad government’s 11 month long crackdown against opposition groups.

UN diplomats returned to the negotiating table Wednesday in hopes of reaching a compromise with Russia and other countries who have expressed concern over the Arab League’s proposed Security Council resolution on Syria.

As US and European officials Tuesday voiced support for a proposed Arab League Security Council resolution against Syria, Russia’s envoy to the UN warned that Moscow would oppose any provision that calls on President Bashar Al Assad to handover power. Western Security Council members had hoped Russia would be hesitant…

The League of Arab States suspended its observer mission to Syria on Saturday, days before the organization’s Secretary General Nabil Elaraby is scheduled to make his case  for a Security Council resolution against the Assad government at UN headquarters. While Council members Friday debated the Arab-led proposal which calls on President…