BREAKING NEWS

Death toll mounts, Syria holds referendum

BEIRUT - The Syrian government kept up its onslaught on Homs and other towns, with at least 100 killed according to human rights campaigners, as the country prepared to hold a referendum on Sunday on a new constitution.
"No one is going to vote," activist Omar, speaking by Skype from the rebel-held Baba Amro district of Homs, said in advance of the referendum staged by President Bashar Assad's government.
"This was a constitution made to Bashar's tastes and meanwhile we are getting shelled and killed," he added. "More than 40 people were killed today and you want us to vote in a referendum? ... No one is going to vote."
Forces loyal to Assad killed at least 100 people in Syria on Saturday in a fourth week of bombardments on the central city of Homs and assaults on towns and villages in northern and southern provinces, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said.