The Syrian government is claiming it has begun withdrawing forces from two besieged cities, but residents say military operations against opposition protesters remain underway. An estimated 36 people have died in the five-day assault on Latakia. Thousands of Palestinian refugees have fled the city after their camp came under heavy shelling. Meanwhile, demonstrations have been reported in at least three other Syrian towns, despite the ongoing threat of government attacks. At a public event in Washington, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States is pushing for additional sanctions on Syria.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “It is a growing international chorus of condemnation. The United States has been instrumental in orchestrating that, and we are pushing for stronger sanctions that we hope will be joined by other countries that have far bigger stakes economically than we do.”