Syrian Security Forces 'Kill At Least 19'

A house reportedly damaged by shelling from government forces in the Baba Amr neighborhood of Homs

Syrian activists say at least 19 people were killed across Syria on February 14, most of them in the flashpoint city of Homs.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said most of the victims were civilians who died in the heaviest shelling of Homs for days.

Troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been shelling Homs for 10 days in a bid to retake control of zones held by rebel forces. Hundreds of people have been reported killed in the offensive.

Shelling was also reported on February 14 in Hama. The violence came as Assad's regime flatly rejected charges of crimes against humanity made by UN human rights chief Navi Pillay on February 13.

More than 6,000 people have reportedly been killed since Assad's forces began their brutal crackdown on protesters in March 2011.

Compiled from agency reports