Syria: Assad accused of genocide as nearly 50 die in Homs "It is the genocide card," he said. Mr Hassan said bombardment intensified in the early morning, concentrating on Bab Amro, al Bayada, al Khalidiya and Wadi al-Arab. They are all Sunni Muslim neighbourhoods in the mixed city that have risen up against the 11-year rule of Mr Assad, from Syria's minority Alawite community, which has dominated the majority Sunni country for the last five decades. "Mortar and rocket fires have subsided, but heavy machineguns and anti-aircraft guns are still strong...tanks are in main thoroughfares in the city and appear poised to push deep into residential areas," he added. Mr Hassan also said a doctor tried to get through the barrage to Baba Amr but was wounded. The official state news agency said "armed terrorist groups" attacked police roadblocks in Homs and fired mortar bombs at the city, with three falling on the Homs oil refinery, one of two in the country. It gave no details of any damage. "Assad is seeing the civilised world turn against him and he thinks he will win if he uses more brutal force before the world could act," said Catherine al Talli, senior member of the opposition National Council. Yesterday he Syrian interior ministry pledged to press on with the offensive against the "terrorist gangs" in Homs. "Operations to hunt down terrorist groups will continue until security and order are re-established in all neighbourhoods of Homs and its environs and until we overcome all armed persons terrorising citizens," said a statement. As Mr Lavrov met the president in Damascus, where he was greeted by friendly crowds waving the Syrian and Russian national flags yesterday, more shells and mortars were fired into Homs. "There are about four blasts every five minutes," said Abu Rami, an opposition activist in the city.