Russia pushes Syria reforms as bloodshed mounts
Days after blocking a US-backed peace plan at the UN, senior Russian officials have pushed for reforms during an emergency meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, promoting a settlement to end the uprising without removing him from power.
On Tuesday, thousands of flag-waving government supporters cheered the Russians in the Syrian capital of Damascus, while to the north, Assad's forces pounded the opposition city of Homs - underscoring the sharp divisions propelling the country toward civil war. (AP)
