Violence rages in Syria

2012-01-31 71

A convent in Syria near the Lebanese border.

The Syrian government escorted journalists to the convent Tuesday, to view the damage from what they are calling a terrorist attack.

No one was killed or injured in the attack and it is unclear who was behind it.

However, Syrian government forces have killed at least 33 people in the area in the last few days in an attack to dislodge army defectors and insurgents.

Inside the convent rooms are covered in rubble.

A nun explains what happened.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CONVENT NUN SISTER STEPHANIE HADDAD, SAYING:

"From here, the shell broke through the wall and entered. We heard the sound. Here the shell broke in half. From outside, it penetrated the wall and here it was in the middle of the room, broken into two pieces. We thank God that the bomb did not explode, because if it had exploded, it would have destroyed three or four floors and next door there is an orphanage."

Amateur video out of Syria shows a different side of the conflict.

Footage purportedly out of Homs , which could not be independently verified by Reuters shows a tank firing on the street. Video out of Hama shows a castle under fire.

Western and Arab diplomats are now pushing for a U.N. Security Council resolution which would call for President Bashar al- Assad to step down.

Activists say say 25 people were killed on Monday in the Damascus suburbs alone and dozens more died in other parts of the country.

Syria blames the violence on foreign-backed insurgent groups.

A draft of the U.N. Security Council resolution, obtained by Reuters, calls for a "political transition" in Syria, and says the Security Council could adopt unspecified further measures if Syria does not comply with its terms.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.