Syrian forces on offensive

DAMASCUS: Syrian forces pressed their assault across the country on Monday as international peace envoy Kofi Annan stressed that there could be no deadline to ending the year-long crisis.

A UN official meanwhile said they were investigating reports that Syrian rebels were using child soldiers in their battle against President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Clashes were reported in the central flashpoint city of Homs, in Damascus province and other areas, leaving at least 32 people dead, including 19 civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

At least 16 people including four soldiers and two children died as regime forces pounded several neighbourhoods of Homs, the Britain-based watchdog said.

In Damascus province, seven soldiers and five civilians were killed in clashes in two towns -- Harasta and Zabadani.

The violence came as Annan, the United Nations and Arab League envoy to Syria, said no time limit could be set to ending the revolt against the Assad's regime, which erupted last March.

"I think only Syrians should decide the issue of Assad's resignation," Annan told Russian news agencies in remarks translated into Russian.

"It's important to sit all Syrians behind a negotiating table," he said, speaking a day after meeting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The former UN chief said it was "incorrect to give any deadlines" for ending the violence in Syria, in which more than 9,100 people have already been killed, according to monitors.

Medvedev had warned on Sunday that Annan represented the last chance for avoiding a civil war in Syria, promising him Russia's full support.

Annan is to hold talks on Tuesday with Chinese leaders in Beijing, who he has said he hopes will also back his mission. (AFP)