04/02/2012 BBC Weekend News

Good evening. Britain and the United States have led condemnation

of the Syrian regime following one of the bloodiest attacks there

since the uprising began ten months ago. Anti-government activists say

at least 60 people were killed by security forces in and around the

city of Homs. Others claim the figure is even higher. But this

evening, Russia and China vetoed against a UN resolution which

called for an immediate end to the violence. -- voted against. The

Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has said the two countries have let

down the Syrian people and encouraged the regime to increase

the killing. Jim Muir has the latest.

Human rights groups called it a massacre. The violence erupted in

the middle of the night, buildings were hit and set on fire in what

activists called the most violent shelling it off the city in months.

One resident who we cannot name said it came out of the blue.

God. Suddenly, maybe three hours ago, it started, this shelling.

Field hospitals desperately tried to cope with a deluge of wounded.

Appeals were put out for blood donations and other medical

supplies were said to be running out. Activists posted video footage

to gruesome for us to show of many dead bodies. Later in the day,

funerals were held for those killed. They may have been fewer than the

200 or even 300 initially reported, but there was international outrage.

President Obama called the attack unspeakable and said President

Assad must and down. Syria accused the opposition of staging the

violence in Homs to influence discussions at the UN Security

Council. The Americans and their allies are seeking a tough

resolution on Syria despite resistance from the Russians and

Chinese, who have now vetoed it. a tired and brutalises his own

people, America and Europe stand shoulder to shoulder. We are united

with the Arab Legion demanding an end to the bloodshed and a

democratic future for Syria. As the violence continues, the pressure on

the Russians is building. They have announced that their foreign

minister will hold discussions with President Assad on Tuesday in

Damascus to try and find a political solution.

Our UN correspondent, Barbara Plett, is in New York.

Where does this go from here, giving the two Beatles? Is there

any prospect of resolution? We have been told that the draft

resolution still stands at the UN, but what has happened today, given

that, it will be difficult to get movement behind that in the short

term, especially because this revelation should not have been

difficult. Essentially it applied to the Arab League plan for ending

the conflict. The fundamental problem is that there is difference

in the position between Russia and China. Russia and China do not

believe the role of the Security Council is to intervene in the

internal affairs of a sovereign country. They are willing to back a

political solution but they feel that the Arab plan was setting out

a timetable for regime change, and they believe that Western countries

on the council also had the same agenda. I do not think it will be

coming back to the Security Council for resolution any time soon.

Heavy snow is falling across large parts of the UK, causing disruption

on roads, and prompting warnings of worse to come. The Met Office has

issued a severe weather warning for much of the country, and about a

third of tomorrow's flights from Heathrow airport have been

cancelled. Our correspondent, Ed Thomas, is in the village of

Uppermill in the Pennines. Good evening. It began snowing here

around five hours ago and it has not stopped since. There is around

three inches of snow covering the ground and there has been

disruption. If you have not seen any snow yet where you are, I

expect to see it very soon. It has been a long time coming.

Here in Saddleworth, the big freeze has given way to snow and winter

finally began. We're having fun, we are having lots of fun. I have got

tampons on my heels so why do not slip. It is minus two degrees. --

crampons. The snow is not just causing problems on the high ground.

Elsewhere, N Litchfield there was a white wedding with a difference.

is amazing, it is very cold. Stoke, the grounds men did their

best to keep the pitch clear, while in Oxfordshire, the lowest

temperature in Britain was recorded at minus 12 degrees. The snow and

frost on the M54 near Wolverhampton meant that cars needed to slow

right down. Consider the elderly. With freezing temperatures last

night, this man is checking on his neighbour. He is 84 years old. This

is something that charities want to see more of. We have supermarket

deliveries for groceries. This man has brought his shipping. The

weather is not just taking up his time, it could cost him money. --

sheep in. The biggest worry is that it does not hang around for too

long because we are using fodder that we would use in the spring.

Many want to know how long the snow will last. It looks like many of us

in Scotland, England and Wales will wake up tomorrow morning to scenes

like this. That means more disruption. We have already had a

number of football matches called off today, and nearly one in three

flights at Heathrow could be cancelled. The advice is to check

with your airline before you travel. Thank you very much.

And the BBC website has all the latest on what is happening with

the weather in your area. That is bbc.co.uk/news.

Tens of thousands of people have marched through Moscow in a protest

against the Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, who is standing for

the presidency next month. The demonstrators say the parliamentary

elections in December were rigged by Mr Putin's United Russia party

and they are calling for a re-run. A pro-Putin rally was held

elsewhere in the city. Cricket, and Pakistan's batsmen

have edged their team closer to a series whitewash over England.

After Andrew Strauss' side were bowled out for 141, Younis Khan and

Azhar Ali showed the visitors just how to play in the conditions,

reaching 222 for 2 at the close, a lead of 180. Joe Wilson reports

from Dubai. The captain's job was to build the

lead. Andrew Strauss persevered. English batsmen making 50 would

feel like a triumph of endurance after recent experience. Andrew

Strauss chose to dance. The quickstep means nothing without the

ball. England were all out for just 42 ahead. The England routine is

that the batsmen did a whole and the bowlers find a ladder. When

Panesar have got rid of the opposition for lbw, there was hope.

But not for long. When Azhar Ali dance, it came with a punch.

Panesar walked away. When the runs came, at last decried followed.

Through this again the demons have lurked in the minds of batsmen, but

not on the pitch. Younis Khan was thinking clearly and hitting

cleanly. Before the close, he made sure that this test is ending the

A painting by the French post- impressionist Paul Cezanne is

believed to have become the most expensive work of art ever sold.

The Card Players, painted in the 1890s, is one of a series of five,