MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

“(CNN) — At least 24 people were killed in cities across Syria during a government crackdown Saturday against those in opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, according to a U.K.-based human rights group.

Gunfire and explosions could be heard in the western Syrian city of Homs, as residents contended with fuel shortages and power outages throughout the day, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

CNN cannot independently confirm accounts from the ground in Syria because the government has not provided access to Western media.

Also Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that al-Assad had passed the ‘point of no return — no way that he will resume his authority or legitimacy over his people.’

‘I think that the world response … these are real signals that there is acceleration toward the end of this regime,’ he said, citing the responses of the Arab League and Jordan.” Read more.

Assad: Syria will not bow down to pressure to end crackdown – “Syrian President Bashar Assad was quoted on Saturday as saying he would press on with a crackdown against anti-government unrest in his country despite increased pressure from the Arab League to end it. ‘The conflict will continue and the pressure to subjugate Syria will continue,’ he told Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper. ‘However, I assure you that Syria will not bow down and that it will continue to resist the pressure being imposed on it.'” Read more.

Hague To Meet Syrian Rebel Leaders In London – “Foreign Secretary William Hague is expected to meet with Syrian rebel leaders as Britain continues to pressure the regime of President Bashar Assad. Talks will take place in London on Monday with representatives of the Syrian National Council and the National Co-ordination Committee for Democratic Change after months of behind-the-scenes diplomatic contact… A spokeswoman said: ”We have been having regular contacts with a variety of figures in the Syrian opposition for several months. We are now intensifying these.'” Read more.

Report: Russia warships to enter Syria waters in bid to stem foreign intervention – “Russian warships are due to arrive at Syrian territorial waters, a Syrian news agency said on Thursday, indicating that the move represented a clear message to the West that Moscow would resist any foreign intervention in the country’s civil unrest. Also on Friday, a Syrian official said Damascus has agreed “in principle” to allow an Arab League observer mission into the country. But the official said Friday that Syria was still studying the details.” Read more.