Cameron and Obama unite in fresh sanctions threat to Syria

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Prime Minister and the US President are calling for "international unity against the regime's attacks on its own citizens", said a No 10 spokesman.

Their "disappointment" at the United Nations' stance over Assad's brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters was expressed as activists said Syrian government forces were today renewing their bombardment of the rebellious city of Homs, where more than 400 people are reported to have been killed so far this month, while humanitarian conditions worsen.

United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay said the failure of the UN Security Council to take action has encouraged Damascus to make an "all-out assault" on the rebels.

Downing Street criticised the security council's failure this month to agree a resolution condemning Assad's regime. Mr Cameron and Mr Obama, who have already called on Assad to step down, discussed the latest violence in a transatlantic phone call last night, when, said the Downing Street spokesman, they "expressed disappointment at the Russian and Chinese vetoes of the draft [UN resolution]" and agreed on the need for further UN action.

Meanwhile, a push by government tanks into the rebel-held central town of Rastan has been repelled. The offensive began yesterday, a day after Syria rejected Arab League calls for the UN to create a peacekeeping force in the country, and for an end to the crackdown on dissent.

Damascus called the league's initiative "a flagrant interference" in its internal affairs and "an infringement upon national sovereignty".

The Syrian uprising started 10 months ago. More than 5,400 people are said to have been killed there last year, while tens of thousands have been arrested, with more than 18,000 still detained. Thousands more are missing, 25,000 are estimated to have fled the country and more than 70,000 are internally displaced.

Army defectors clash almost daily with soldiers. The rebels have taken control of small swathes of central Homs province, where Rastan is located, and the north-western province of Idlib, which borders Turkey.