Syrian troops resume shelling of residential areas

Syrian troops have resumed their shelling of residential neighbourhoods dominated by rebels in the central city of Homs, activists say.

The reported shelling is threatening a UN-brokered ceasefire and comes hours after the UN Security Council voted unanimously to dispatch a first team of monitors to Syria to shore up the shaky truce.

The Local Co-ordination Committees activist network said shells falling at the rate of six each minute shook the neighbourhood of Khaldiyeh this morning.

Homs-based activists said other districts including Bayada, Jouret el-Shayah, Qarabees and Qusour were also being shelled.

The regime restricts access of foreign observers, including journalists, making it difficult to verify reports of violence independently.

AP