SNC urges UN, Arab League, OIC to step in

Syria's National Council on Saturday urged the United Nations and Arab League to step in to prevent a "catastrophe" in the war-torn country's central Homs province in particular. "The Syrian National Council urges the UN, its relief and rights agencies, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to intervene quickly to save the people besieged in Homs and prevent the occurrence of a catastrophe," the Council said in an online statement. Council member Naji Tayyra told DPA that the risk of a humanitarian catastrophe was greatest in the restive provinces. "Particularly at this time, the risk is greater in Homs whose residents have been besieged for more than 80 days now by the regime forces," Tayyra said. "All supply routes to Homs have been cut, making the residents left behind facing a real and urgent danger."