Syrian forces renew bombardment in Homs, Germany expells Syrian embassy workers

German Minister of Foreign Affairs Guido Westerwelle expelled 4 employees at the Syrian embassy in Berlin on suspicion of spying on Syrian opposition figures. 

In the field, Syrian forces fired mortars and rockets Thursday in the rebellious city of Homs, the latest salvo in a weeklong assault that has killed hundreds as President Bashar Assad's regime tries to crush pockets of dissent.     

Homs, Syria's third-largest city, has become the focus of both resistance and reprisal in the 11-month uprising as many areas have fallen under the control of increasingly bold army defectors who want to bring down the regime by force.   

In the latest operation, which began Saturday, government forces have unleashed a relentless offensive against Homs, shelling residential areas as they try to root out any resistance and retake control of the city of 1 million people.    

Hundreds are believed to have been killed in the heaviest bombardment the city has seen since the country's uprising began in March, activists said.            

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 12 people were killed Thursday, but an exact death toll couldn't be determined because of the chaos in the city.   

As the violence grinds on, world powers are searching for new diplomatic approaches to stop the protracted bloodshed in Syria.      

The uprising began with mostly peaceful protests, but it has transformed into an armed insurgency against Assad in many areas.    

The U.N. estimates that 5,400 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising began in March. But that figure is from January, when the U.N. stopped counting because deteriorating security prevented verification of the figures.       

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday the head of the Arab League plans to send observers back into Syria and has raised the possibility of a joint mission with the United Nations.           

The U.N. chief provided no specifics, but the idea appears aimed at giving the regional group a boost after the league's earlier mission was pulled out of the country because of security concerns. 

AP