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47 dead in Syrian massacre
The bodies of 47 women and children have been found dead after a "massacre" in the Syrian city of Homs, the opposition and activists have said.
26 children and 21 women were killed in a massacre in the city of Homs, some of who were beaten, mutilated and raped before they were killed
The 26 children and 21 women - some bearing stab wounds - were discovered in the Karm el-Zaytoun and Al-Adawiyeh neighbourhoods, according to activists. Some were beaten, raped and mutilated before being killed.
The Syrian National Council (SNC), the main opposition group, has called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss the "massacre", which it said took place on Sunday.
State television blamed "armed terrorist gangs" for the killings.
The reports follow crisis talks between UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan and President Bashar al Assad over the weekend.
Former UN secretary - general Annan said he was "optimistic" a deal could be reached to end the bloodshed, but the Syrian leader said no political solution was possible while "terrorist" groups were destabilising the country.
Thousands of people have been killed during the year-long uprising by protesters and insurgents and bloody crackdown by regime forces.
