'Many dead' in fresh Homs attacks

Women and children are among those reported to have been tortured and killed on Sunday night in the neighbourhood of Karm el-Zeytoun.

The Syrian government acknowledged the deaths, but blamed "armed terrorists".

The attack happened hours after UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan ended his two-day mission to Damascus.

Homs has been under assault for weeks as government forces have tried to root out rebel fighters. Parts of the city are devastated.

'Deeper catastrophe'

Syria is being discussed at a meeting of UN Security Council foreign ministers in New York.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said that the Security Council had so far failed in its responsibility to the Syrian people "in the eyes of the overwhelming majority of the world".

"It should be possible for the Council to call for an immediate end to the brutal repression and violations of human rights; to demand an end to all violence and immediate and unhindered humanitarian access," he said.

He called on the Council - which include Russia and China, who have opposed previous resolutions on Syria - to "adopt a resolution containing these essential elements".

Mr Hague's comments echoed those of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who said the Syrian government had "failed to fulfil its responsibility to protect its own people and instead has subjected its citizens in several cities to military assault and disproportionate use of force".

Mr Ban said the Council must unite "to help Syria pull back from the brink of a deeper catastrophe".

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