West ups pressure for UN action on Syria

SYRIA: Western governments ratcheted up the pressure for UN Security Council action against Syria on Wednesday with France branding blocking moves by China and Russia "indecent."

US President Barack Obama said his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad had no legitimacy after repeatedly ducking reform, as ties between Damascus and Western governments nosedived after pro-regime protesters attacked the US and French embassies.

An explosion, meanwhile, hit a pipeline in northeastern Syria in the first attack on the energy infrastructure since unprecedented protests against Assad's rule erupted in mid-March, state media and activists said.

And the Arab League of Human Rights head said security forces wielding batons dispersed 250 intellectuals and writers in Damascus's Midan district on Wednesday as they gathered, sang the national anthem and chanted "God, Syria, Freedom."

Four people were arrested, said Abdel Karim Rihawi. Damascus, Thursday, AFP