Impotent rage? Cameron tells Assad his ‘day of reckoning will come’
By Ian Dunt Follow @IanDunt
David Cameron noticeably toughened up his rhetoric on Syria today, saying President Bashar al-Assad's "day of reckoning will come".
The comments come amid appalling reports from Homs, where activists say regime loyalists are going house-to-house slaughtering remaining civilians.
“The history of Homs is being written in the blood of its citizens," Mr Cameron said during an EU summit in Brussels.
"It is a scene of medieval barbarity.
"The Assad regime is butchering its own citizens."
He added: "One day, no matter how long it takes, there will be a day of reckoning for this dreadful regime.
"People had their doubts that day would come in Libya, but it did."
The harsh rhetoric partly reflects the impotence of the international community in the face of barbaric actions by the Assad regime, which has now sent troops into suburbs which have been bombarded over the last week.
Online videos show the last remaining residents trying to collect snow in bowls as the only available thing to drink.
The Free Syria Army finally gave up on the area overnight, with remaining fighters trying to evacuate the area, according to reports.
With electricity cut for several days and no food or water entering the area, aid agencies are prepared for appalling scenes when they arrive.
The Red Cross said its aid convoy has now reached Homs having finally been granted access by the regime. It is understood to be preparing to enter the Bab Amr district
Also in Brussels, Nicolas Sarkozy also confirmed France would close its embassy in Syria, a day after William Hague announced the same decision in the UK.
Military analysts are extremely concerned about the knock-on effects of a conflict in Syria, which acts as a pivotal state in the politics of the Middle East.
Many fear that any western involvement would quickly grow to encompass Iran and other neighbours, possibly triggering a regional war.
