Concerns about children caught up in the Syrian conflict deepened yesterday as a United Nations human rights envoy described the "horrendous" incarceration and torture of youngsters by the Syrian government, days after the UN said it had unconfirmed reports of child soldiers fighting for the opposition.

Athletes from war-torn Syria should not be punished by being excluded from the London 2012 games, David Cameron said today.

Home Office insists her UK passport means it cannot prevent the wife of Syria's president coming here

Syrian troops shelled and raided opposition areas and clashed with rebel fighters around the country yesterday despite UN efforts to stop the bloodshed so aid could reach suffering civilians.

Tensions rise as expat living opposite Assad's father-in-law in London loses cousin in conflict

Nato mission suffers dual setbacks

After more than 8,000 civilian deaths, a full-scale bombardment of one of the country's largest cities and renewed fears of all-out civil war, the first anniversary of Syria's uprising was marked by flag-waving rallies from regime supporters in Damascus yesterday – and more death and destruction in the country's northern borderlands.

Messages show the dictator and his wife obsessed with shopping while Syria suffers

Russia continues arms sales to regime

Library protesters to rally in London

Dozens of civilians were killed in cold blood in the Syrian city of Homs, opposition activists and Syrian state media said today, although they disputed responsibility for what both sides called a massacre.

Former UN head meets rejection from both Assad's regime and opposition activists

To despair at the international community's apparent impotence in the face of the violence that has claimed an estimated 7,500 lives in Syria would be easy.