The Syrian government’s crackdown on opposition protests continued in the city of Homs Wednesday with the killing of at least 20 people. The assault is believed to be one of the most violent to date against an urban center during Syria’s popular unrest. Human rights groups say the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has intensified its campaign of violent repression with more frequent military raids, targeted assassinations of protest leaders, and thousands of arrests. The United Nations estimates at least 2,200 people have died over the past three months. At the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice called for a new international rebuke of Assad’s government.

Ambassador Susan Rice: “It is past time for a strong resolution that contains meaningful measures to increase the pressure on the Assad regime. And we are working with partners from Europe and elsewhere towards that end. We think there is a solid base of support for additional measures. There is not yet unanimity, and there are obviously some countries that prefer to go slow with respect to certain measures.”