UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council condemned in the strongest possible terms the killings of dozens of men, women and children and the wounding of hundreds more in the Syrian village of El-Houleh, near Homs, in attacks that involved a series of government artillery and tank shellings on a residential neighbourhood.

In a press statement the members of the Security Council also condemned the killing of civilians by shooting at close range and by severe physical abuse. The council extended its profound sympathies and sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and underscored their grave concern about the situation of civilians in Syria.

The council met in an emergency meeting on Sunday and ended up issuing a press statement instead of a Presidential statement or a resolution. The presidential statement is on record and Council's resolution are binding. “Such outrageous use of force against civilian population constitutes a violation of applicable international law and of the commitments of the Syrian government under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2042 and 2043 to cease violence in all its forms”, including the cessation of use of heavy weapons in population centres, the statement said.