Pro-democracy activists in Syria say at least 10 civilians have been killed in the latest political violence there.
The violence centred on the city of Homs has been continuing for four days since the Syrian Government said it would accept the terms of an Arab League peace plan and pull its troops out of residential areas.
The BBC reports that President Bashar al-Assad appears to be ignorning the Arab League's demands and has instead made proposals of his own.
He is offering a two-month amnesty for army deserters to return to their units and a week for civilians to hand over any weapons they have.
The Arab League has moved quickly to take action, condemning what it describes as Syria's failure to live up to its obligations under the peace plan.
Foreign ministers from the Arab League are to meet this weekend to discuss the continuing violence in Syria.
