Reuters - Syrian forces bombarded Homs on Monday, killing 50 people in a sustained assault on several districts of the city which has become a centre of armed opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian National Council opposition group said.

AP - The U.S. closed its embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Monday in a dramatic escalation of pressure on President Bashar Assad to give up power, just days after diplomatic efforts to end nearly 11 months of bloodshed collapsed at the United Nations.

AP - A major political party in Mexico has chosen a female presidential candidate for the first time, as the ruling party bet that a charismatic former congresswoman will help it erode the lead held by its powerful rival.