At least six people have died in the besieged Syrian city of Homs after it came under renewed attack by regime forces, according to pro-democracy activists.
Rami Abdel Rahman of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said: "Six civilians died in the continuous shelling of Baba Amr neighbourhood this morning.
"The shelling began at dawn and is the most intense in five days."
Homs-based democracy campaigner Hussein Nader said it was not possible to survey the damage or look for casualties in the city.
"They are hitting the same spots several consecutive times, making venturing out there impossible.
"The shelling was heavy in the morning and now it is one rocket every 15 minutes or so," Mr Hussein said by satellite phone.
Another resident said a humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Homs.
"The situation is tragic. There are pregnant women, people with heart problems, diabetics and, foremost, wounded people who we cannot evacuate," Hadi Abdullah of the General Commission of the Syrian Revolution said.
"On Monday evening three activists entered the town by car transporting bread, baby milk and medicine."
Mr Abdullah said regime forces have tried to kill residents during funeral ceremonies.
"For one week, the dead have been buried in gardens, because even the cemeteries and graves are being targeted. People are crammed into shelters," he said.
Activist reports cannot be independently verified as the Syrian government restricts access for media outlets.
Diplomatic routes are still being sought to resolve the conflict before Syria descends into full-scale civil war.
China, which vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Syria, said that its envoy has held talks with the head of the Arab League.
The resolution, which was also vetoed by Russia , would have pressured the Syrian president, Bashar al Assad , to step down, saying a vote was called before differences in the proposal were bridged.
The veto drew widespread criticism, including from the Arab League , which has been pushing regional efforts to end 11 months of bloodshed in Syria.
A statement from China's foreign ministry said Li Huaxin had travelled to Cairo where he held "frank and useful" talks with Arab League secretary-general Nabil Elaraby.
On Monday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the Syrian government's assault on Homs has killed at least 300 people since February 4, citing sources on the ground.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has backed an Arab League plan to end the violence in Syria, but acknowledged it is unlikely that calls for a UN military presence would be met.
The Homs assault began on the same day Russia and China vetoed a second Security Council resolution - and Ms Pillay said the UN's inaction was inflaming the bloodshed.
"The failure of the Security Council to agree on firm collective action appears to have emboldened the Syrian government to launch an all-out assault in an effort to crush dissent with overwhelming force," she said.
Since the crackdown was launched less than a year ago, more than 6,000 people have been killed, according to monitors.
The UN puts the figure at above 5,400 killed in the uprising.
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