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Hillary Clinton: "The obstruction of a few countries cannot be allowed to stop the world community from coming to the aid of the Syrian people"
A major world conference is being held in Tunisia to seek a breakthrough in the increasingly bitter Syrian unrest.
The US, Europe and Arab countries plan to challenge President Bashar al-Assad to provide humanitarian access within days to the worst-affected areas.
There is growing pressure on Damascus to give access to civilians trapped by the onslaught on Homs, which has lasted for more than two weeks.
Activists say another 50 or 60 people died across Syria on Thursday.
Russia and China will not attend the Tunisia "Friends of Syria" conference, organised by the Arab League.
The two countries have faced Western and Arab criticism for blocking a UN Security Council resolution that would have backed an Arab League peace plan for Syria.
Around 70 other nations, including the US, UK, France and Turkey are attending.
The conference will agree a declaration on Syria, expected to demand an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian assessment, with the threat of further sanctions if ignored.
The declaration may also boost the standing of the main opposition umbrella group the Syrian National Council, by naming it as a "legitimate" representative of Syrians, but stopping short of giving it full endorsement.
On the eve of the conference, the UN and Arab League appointed Kofi Annan as their envoy to Syria.
Mr Annan, a former UN secretary general, has in recent years acted as a diplomatic troubleshooter in several long-running conflicts.
The UN said in a statement he would "provide good offices aimed at bringing an end to all violence and human rights violations, and promoting a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis".
'Assad's stranglehold'
Activists say many civilians have been killed and injured in the bombardment of Homs
On the eve of attending the Tunisia conference, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said all countries should "aggressively implement" measures they had already agreed.
"We look forward to concrete progress on three fronts - providing humanitarian relief, increasing pressure on the regime, and preparing for a democratic transition," she said.
"To that end, we hope to see new pledges of emergency assistance for Syrians caught in Assad's stranglehold, and international co-ordination and diplomatic pressure on Damascus to allow it to get to those who need it most. We also expect additional nations to impose effective sanctions against the regime."
The UK Prime Minister David Cameron said it was vital that the international community came together on the issue of Syria.
The French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, speaking in London before leaving for Tunis, said the conference needed to exert the maximum pressure on the Syrian government and also on Russia.
He said there was no military option on the table and France could not envisage such an option without an international mandate.
Journalists' pleaThe conference comes two days after journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik died during shelling in Homs.
Edith Bouvier: "I need an urgent operation"
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has described the killing of the two journalists as "murder", according to AFP.
"Those who did this will have to account for it," Mr Sarkozy said, alleging that the journalists were specifically targeted.
Two journalists wounded in the same attack have made internet appeals for medical help. Frenchwoman Edith Bouvier is being treated by Syrian medics but needs surgery which they are unable to perform. Paul Conroy, who is British, also asked for outside help to bring him to safety.
Meanwhile, a United Nations panel has drawn up a confidential list of Syrian military officials - believed to include President Assad - who could face investigation for crimes against humanity.
It says these include shooting unarmed women and children, shelling civilian areas and torturing the wounded.
24 Feb, 2012
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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-17144805
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