Russia’s foreign minister holds talks with President Assad in Syria, during an extended attack on Homs that has so far killed hundreds of civilians.
Thousands of pro-Assad supporters took to the streets of Damascus to greet Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov.
His ministry said they sought “the swiftest stabilisation of the situation in Syria on the basis of the swiftest implementation of democratic reforms whose time has come”.
But with the city of Homs once again under bombardment, western officials are not optimistic about a Russian diplomatic track.
After a weekend of heavy attack killing hundreds of civilians, Syria‘s army launched shells and mortar bombs on to the city of Homs into the early hours of Tuesday morning.
A member of the main opposition Syrian National Council said that 50 people were killed after a sustained bombardment of Homs, only two days after activists reported 200 people dead after shelling.
It is thought to be the most powerful attack against government opposition since the Syrian uprising began 11 months ago.
The upsurge in violence came as the international community scrambled to form a diplomatic strategy after a UN Security Council resolution to back the Arab League in calling for Assad to give up power, was vetoed by China and Russia.
Journalists are operating with major restrictions so information is very difficult to verify.
Now the main task for Lavrov is to tell Assad that if there is no visible change in Syria, then regardless of the Russian position he should be bracing for external military measures. Fyodor Lukyanov, Russia in Global Affairs editor.
But activists also said a blast hit an oil pipeline feeding a main refinery in Homs on Monday – the second attack in a week.
Separately, three people died when the opposition-held town of Zabadani, near the Lebanese border, came under fire on Monday.
Syrian authorities, who deny firing on houses, said that security forces killed “tens of terrorists” in Homs on Monday morning. An government statement staid that six members of the security forces were killed in the clashes.
Russia defended its decision to block the UN resolution, and Foreign Minister Lavrov said the West’s condemnation of Moscow verged on “hysteria”.
Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby told Reuters that he had spoken to Mr Lovrov and was told that he would present an initiative to Damascus. When asked if he thought it could end the crisis, he replied: “They believe so.”
“I think that now, after Russia imposed a veto, Lavrov (is) travelling to tell Assad that we did everything possible,” said Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of the journal Russia in Global Affairs.
“Now the main task for Lavrov is to tell Assad that if there is no visible change in Syria, then regardless of the Russian position he should be bracing for external military measures.”
Britain, along with the US and Belgium, shut its embassies in Damascus and recalled ambassadors.
US President Barack Obama said on Monday that the West was not considering using force to topple President Assad, as they did to Muammar Gaddafi in Libya last year, and that the West use diplomatic measures.