Syrian army shells Homs

DHAKA: Continued shelling in the Syrian city of Homs is stopping Red Cross teams from evacuating scores of civilians.

Government forces and rebel fighters agreed on Wednesday to a two-hour ceasefire to allow aid workers into the worst affected areas.

However, correspondents say it may be hours or days before they can enter, reports BBC.

Meanwhile, a Syrian Mig 21 fighter jet had landed in neighbouring Jordan and the pilot has asked for political asylum, officials in Amman said.

Syrian state TV only said that contact had been lost with the fighter plane - being flown by an air force colonel - during a training mission.

The plane landed at the King Hussein air base in Mafraq in the north of Jordan, officials there said.

In other developments, reports in the British media say the UK and US could grant Syrian President Bashar al-Assad clemency if he joins peace talks.

The move was discussed on the sidelines of the G20 summit on Mexico, the Guardian newspaper reported.

On Wednesday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that its teams, along with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, were poised to evacuate civilians and deliver aid into parts of Homs.

Waleed Faris, a resident of one area the ICRC was trying to enter, said shelling had been heaviest at dawn on Thursday but there were signs it was subsiding.

BDST: 1726 HRS, JUN 21, 2012

Edited by Robab Rosan, Cultural Affairs Editor