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Syria Renews Bloody Crackdown in Homs
(Financial Times-UK) Borzou Daragahi and Noah Browning - Syrian security forces Tuesday resumed a violent crackdown on the city of Homs, a day after easing their presence during a visit by an Arab League mission. Activists said that at least 11 people were killed nationwide. "Tanks are still in the city and the security forces are everywhere," said Waleed, an activist in Homs. "The situation today is exactly like it was before." On the ground, there were signs that the credibility of the Arab League mission was unraveling. One piece of amateur footage posted on the Internet showed a team of Arab League monitors in orange vests shooing away activists trying to speak to them as gunfire and explosions erupted in the distance. In another video, Homs residents place spent artillery shells and the lifeless body of a five-year-old they say was killed by Assad's forces on the bonnet of an Arab League vehicle. Activists said a Syrian officer from the Fourth Armored Division, which has been accused of leading the crackdown, accompanied the Arab League team visiting the families of victims in Homs. The relatives refused to meet the monitors as long as they were with the officer, so the monitors withdrew from the area.