BBC News with Iain Purdon
The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been making fresh promises to end violence in his country, talk to the opposition and bring in reforms. He gave the assurances to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Damascus. But opposition groups in Syria accused Mr Assad of making empty promises while the United States said it remained sceptical. Jim Muir reports from neighbouring Lebanon.
After his talks with President Assad, Mr Lavrov said he believed the message had got through that swift action was necessary. He said the Syrians would soon announce a date for a constitutional referendum - part of a reform process that the opposition have dismissed. He said Mr Assad was also committed to ending the violence from all sources - something the regime has taken so far to cover the crushing of any armed resistance. If Mr Lavrov did get more from Mr Assad behind the scenes, that may become apparent in the coming days, especially in Homs, where the violence and bombardments go on.
The Syrian army has been using mortars and artillery fire in its continuing onslaught against people in Homs. A BBC correspondent who's there said more and more people were struggling to get access to food and other supplies, and anyone trying to flee the city would face sniper fire.
The UN refugee agency says it's sent emergency teams to countries neighbouring Mali to help them deal with an influx of more than 20,000 people who've fled fighting there. Clashes between rebel Tuaregs and government forces in northern Mali broke out last month. A rebel group, the MNLA, is fighting to create an autonomous region. Richard Hamilton reports.