Syrian authorities rejected an Arab League proposal for a U.N. peacekeepers to enter the country, while its forces have begun shelling Homs for a the tenth day. The New York Times is reporting that Bashar al-Assad's forces have resumed their bombardment of Homs, while Reuters notes that attacks have been focusing on the Baba Amr and al-Waer districts of the city. As with past coverage, news outlets are quick to point out that the number of casualties and stories from opposition forces and activists need to be taken with caution as there's no way of confirming their reports. That said, CNN reports that one activist said government forces were using detained civilians as human shields. 

The shelling comes after a Syrian rejection of an Arab League proposal for a joint Arab-U.N. peacekeeping force. The proposal had garnered support from the E.U., but the Syrian government rejected the effort, calling the proposal  "the state of hysteria affecting some Arab governments, especially Qatar and Saudi Arabia ..." The New York Times reports that Russia, which along with China vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have Assad step aside, said that a cease-fire was needed before there could be any talk of peacekeeping mission in the region. China hasn't revealed whether it would support the peacekeeping move. 

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Alexander Abad-Santos