Houla death toll 'now more than 90'

The death toll has risen to at least 90 people from shelling by Syrian government forces on the town of Houla in central Homs province, an opposition group said today.

There was no immediate independent confirmation of the account from the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights from within Syria, which has restricted access for journalists during a 14-month-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

The group had reported at least 50 dead in the shelling on Friday.