A BBC correspondent says troops have been firing artillery, mortars and anti-aircraft guns at civilian areas in Binnish, west of the city of Idlib.

The city of Homs also continued to be hit, activists reported, as France's president said a solution was in sight to rescue wounded Western journalists.

China meanwhile dismissed US criticism of its Syria policy as very arrogant.

A commentary in the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper said that after the experience of Iraq, the US had no right to speak for the Arab people.

"Even now, violence continues unabated in Iraq and ordinary people enjoy no security. This alone is enough for us to draw a huge question mark over the sincerity and efficacy of US policy," it stated.

It follows a blunt statement by the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, that the Chinese and Russian veto of a UN Security Council resolution on Syria was "despicable" while "people are being murdered".

Beijing believes President Bashar al-Assad should be allowed to carry out reforms to try to end the bloodshed.

Meanwhile, the European Union has imposed further sanctions on Syria, including a freeze on the European-held assets of its central bank.

Foreign ministers meeting in Brussels also agreed to issue travel bans against seven more close associates of Mr Assad, while cargo flights from Syria into the EU have been banned, and restrictions have been imposed on the trade in gold and precious metals.

bbc.com