Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday, Feb 18, blamed 11-months of turmoil in which his forces have cracked down on protesters as a ploy to split the country, Reuters reports.

"What Syria is facing is fundamentally an effort to divide it and affect its geopolitical place and historic role in the region," Assad was quoted by Syrian state television as saying, after meeting China's vice foreign minister in Damascus.

Meanwhile activists said that Syrian government forces renewed their bombardment of the opposition stronghold of Homs on Saturday.

The troops were close to Baba Amro, a southern neighborhood that has been target of the heaviest barrages since the armored offensive began two weeks ago, activists claimed.