The Syrian military has sent elite reinforcements from a unit commanded by President Bashar al-Assad's brother Maher to the besieged rebel city of Homs, an activist on the ground said on Tuesday.

Hadi Abdullah of the Syrian Revolution General Commission told AFP on the telephone from the city in central Syria that Fourth Armoured Division troops had taken up positions with their armour around the rebel stronghold of Baba Amr in Homs.

The reinforcements were a likely prelude to a final assault, he said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, meanwhile, said 31 people were killed in the country on Tuesday, including six soldiers, with the heaviest losses in Homs which the regime shelled for a 25th straight day.

Access to the city has now been completely sealed off, according to several commanders of the rebel Free Syrian Army. They said the regular army had also destroyed a tunnel.

France urges Russia, China to accept new Syria resolution
Paris (AFP) Feb 28, 2012 - France on Tuesday urged Russia and China to accept a new UN Security Council resolution on halting the violence in Syria to allow in humanitarian aid.

"A resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire and access for humanitarian aid in the most threatened areas is under discussion at the Security Council. We can hope that China and Russia will not veto this resolution," Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told RTL radio.

"We hope that Russia and China will not oppose the adoption of this resolution on the free access of humanitarian aid to victims and that all members of the Security Council, without exception, will agree to end the barbarism," foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero added.

"The talks (on the resolution) should begin today in New York," Valero said.

"The text that is on the table calls in particular for a halt in the violence and immediate and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to the most threatened areas and most vulnerable people," he said.

UN rights chief Navi Pillay on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to crisis-hit Syria during a special meeting of government ministers in Geneva.

Russia and China have blocked attempts by the Security Council to adopt a resolution on Syria, where monitors estimate that more than 7,600 people have been killed since a crackdown on anti-government protesters began last March.

Juppe said it was possible that Russia would soften its position after a presidential election on Sunday.

"It is undeniable that the pre-election atmosphere in Russia is leading the regime to take nationalist positions," he said. "(Russia) is isolating itself more and more."