Syria opposition leader calls for UN support The new leader of the main Syrian opposition group has urged world powers to protect civilians from President Bashar al-Assad's forces. Abdlbaset Sayda of the Syrian National Council called for decisive action at the UN Security Council that could be implemented by force. If there was no agreement, countries could take action independently. In Istanbul, euronews asked the newly elected leader what his plan was to unite the opposition. "Our contacts with the rebels continue, perhaps there have been some negative points, some misunderstandings, but we are in the process of restoring this situation to arrive at a common platform and even to optimise the revolutionary efforts on the ground," he said. As far as the support of Arab countries is concerned, I must say that this support is political and material by nature. Help is arriving directly into the country and to all regions," he added. Sayda's comments come amid claims that several hundred rebels are under siege from government forces in the north-west of the country, just 50 kilometres from the Turkish border. Opposition activists say government forces have renewed efforts to take control of Homs province, killing at least 35 people in a heavy bombardment. They claim rebels had been intensifying attacks in the area. One activist said there had been heavy shelling on Rastan, north of Homs, with army helicopters firing machineguns into the area.