Turkey Closes Syria Embassy

Turkey shut down its embassy in Syria today, and plans to join with the US to provide “nonlethal” aid to Syria's rebels. White House officials tell the New York Times that the two nations will provide things like communication equipment and medical supplies directly to opposition groups, and urge their allies to do likewise. The moves came as Syrian forces began shelling the restive city of Homs yet again, Reuters reports.

“Every day the shelling goes on,” one activist said. “The regime is wiping out the city.” There was also fighting in the city of Dara'a, where state-run media said that troops had found a “den of terrorists” intent on blowing up a bridge. In another sign of the regime's isolation, even steadfast ally Russia said yesterday that it backed UN envoy Kofi Annan's mission, with Dmitry Medvedev saying it “may be the last chance” to avoid civil war. (More Syria stories.)