20 more killed as Assad fails to keep his promise to UN

Assad,in power since 2000,is facing the most serious international isolation of his rule. On Thursday,the US and its European allies demanded he step down.

Military operations have subsided in the past few days,following a fresh crackdown on major flashpoint cities that started at the beginning of the month to root out anti-government protesters.

But persistent gunfire and shootings,along with Fridays killings,underscore the difficulty of any kind of diplomatic pressure achieving results in the absence of any appetite for military intervention.

Human rights groups said Assads forces have killed nearly 2,000 people since the uprising erupted in mid-March. A high-level UN team recommended Thursday that the violence in Syria be referred to the International Criminal Court over possible crimes against humanity.

Bye,bye Bashar,see you in The Hague! protesters shouted Friday in the central city of Homs as crowds filled the streets,spurred on by the international condemnation.

The number of protesters Friday appeared to be markedly lower than in previous weeks,largely due to the crackdown and security presence. But video posted online by activists showed thousands of protesters in various areas,some calling for Assads departure,others for his execution.

We will not sell the blood of our martyrs, read a banner in Hilfaya,near Hama.

Although Assad told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday that military and police operations had stopped,residents and activists said soldiers,tanks and armored carriers were still deployed in restive cities.

Asked whether Ban believes Assad,UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said,We continue to hear disturbing reports that we would need to look into. ZEINA KARAM