Red Cross chief visits Syria as killings continue | World news | The Guardian

Red Cross chief visits Syria as killings continue | World news | The Guardian

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One Homs resident said: "Some people are arming and we have killed security forces and shabiha [pro-regime thugs assisting in the crackdown], but only in retaliation."

The ICRC chief, Jakob Kellenberger, met the foreign minister, Walid al-Muallem, and was scheduled to meet the president, Bashar al-Assad, on Monday, Sana said. The visit came as Nabil al-Araby, the head of the Arab League, said he had been given permission to visit Damascus. Last week the 22-country body called on the Syrian regime to stop the bloodshed.

Despite rejecting foreign interference, Syria appears to be granting greater access to foreign delegations amid growing international pressure. Last week a UN humanitarian delegation visited cities including Latakia and Homs, where government forces reportedly opened fire at protesters as the delegation was leaving the city.

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