BBC News with Iain Purdon
For the second day running, the Red Cross in the Syrian city of Homs says it's given up hope of getting its relief
convoy
into the stricken district of Baba Amr to deliver aid. Jim Muir is following events from neighbouring Lebanon.
As night fell, Red Cross officials said they'd given up for the day but would renew their efforts in the morning. They are being told by the Syrian authorities that it's too dangerous for them to go in because of possible mines or booby traps. But Syrian television has been in there showing pictures of massive destruction though it blamed it all on terrorist armed gangs carrying out a foreign plot to
destabilise
the country. Activists have accused the security forces of carrying out revenge killings and
summary executions
after they moved in on Thursday following the withdrawal of armed rebels.
China has called on the Syrian government and the opposition to cease the violence and seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The foreign ministry also called on the government of President Bashar al-Assad and the rebels to launch an inclusive dialogue without
preconditions mediated
by the newly appointed UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. Previously, China and Russia have twice vetoed UN Security Council resolutions calling for an end to violence in the country.
The Brazilian sports minister has announced that his government will refuse to deal with the Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke after his criticism of Brazilian preparations for the 2014 World Cup. Aldo Rebelo was speaking after Mr Valcke said that Brazil appeared to