Executions reported in Syria

The head of UN observers in Syria, Major-General Robert Mood, said 13 bodies had been discovered in the east of the country, with their hands tied behind their backs and signs that some had been shot in the head from close range.

The bodies were discovered late on Tuesday in the area of Assukar, 50km east of Deir al-Zor.

"General Mood is deeply disturbed by this appalling and inexcusable act," a statement issued by the observer mission said on Wednesday.

"He calls on all parties to exercise restraint and end the cycle of violence for the sake of Syria and the Syrian people."

The new violence came as Turkey and Japan became the latest countries to expel Syrian diplomats, joining 11 other nations in protesting against a weekend massacre of more than 108 people in Houla, including women and children.

Nevertheless, Syrian forces continued to bombard rebel-held areas in Homs, the main city of the central province where the Houla killings occurred, although no casualties were immediately reported, activists said.

Also, activists said troops shelled suburbs of Damascus and rebel-held areas in Homs city on Wednesday.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Co-ordination Committees - two opposition activist networks - said at least five people were killed in the Douma, a Damascus suburb.

Both groups had no details about casualties in Homs.

Survivors blamed pro-government armed men for at least some of the carnage in Houla as the killings created revulsion inside Syria and beyond, further isolating President Bashar al-Assad and embarrassing his few remaining allies.

The Syrian government denied its troops were behind the killings and blamed "armed terrorists".

The UN's top human rights body, plans to hold a special session on Friday to address the massacre.

Syria had said it would conclude its own investigation into the Houla deaths by Wednesday, but it was not clear if the findings would be made public.

Diplomat expulsions

The Houla killings prompted Western nations to expel Syrian diplomats in a co-ordinated protest, with the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria ordering top Syrian diplomats to leave on Tuesday.

Syria's state-run media on Wednesday denounced the diplomatic expulsions as "unprecedented hysteria".

Turkey, Syria's neighbour and a former close ally, joined the co-ordinated protest on Wednesday. Turkey has been among the most outspoken critics of the Assad government.

It closed its embassy in Damascus in March and withdrew the ambassador. Its consulate in Aleppo remains open.

The foreign ministry said it ordered the Syrian charge d'affaires and other diplomats at the Syrian embassy in Ankara to leave the country within 72 hours. The consulate in Istanbul will remain open for consular duties only.

"It is out of the question to remain silent and without any reaction in the face of this action, which amounts to a crime against humanity," the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"This grave crime against humanity by those who have attempted a massacre of civilians cannot go unpunished."

Japan also ordered the Syrian ambassador in Tokyo to leave the country because of concerns about violence against civilians.

Japan's foreign minister, Koichiro Genba, said his country was not, however, breaking off diplomatic ties with Syria.

In reaction to the expulsion of Syrian diplomats, Syria ordered the Dutch charge d'affaires on Wednesday to leave the country, the foreign ministry said.

Russia said the "counterproductive" expulsion of Syrian envoys would only damage existing efforts to end the crisis through talks.

"The expulsion of Syrian diplomats from leading Western states seems to us to be counterproductive. After all, vital (diplomatic) channels... end up being closed," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

'Violent rhythms'

Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan met Assad on Tuesday in Damascus to try to salvage what was left of his peace plan, which since being negotiated six weeks ago has failed to stop any of the violence.

The Al-Baath daily said that the Syrian government would not be intimidated by such "violent rhythms" and would remain standing in front of such "ugly, bloody and dramatic shows".

It added that "Syria will not tremble as they think".

The Al-Thawra newspaper also criticised the Western decision, calling it an "escalation that aims to besiege Annan's plan and enflame a civil war".

Tensions have escalated as more information emerges about the May 25 killings in Houla.

The UN's human rights office said most of the 108 victims were shot execution-style at close range, with fewer than 20 people cut down by government shelling.

UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said there were strong suspicions that pro-Assad fighters were responsible for some of the killings, casting doubt on allegations that "third elements" - or outside forces - were involved, although he did not rule it out.

On Sunday, foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said a committee comprising the ministries of justice, defence and interior was set up to investigate the massacre and would have the job done within three days.

Source: Agencies and Aljazeera