Syria: We Weren't Behind Houla Massacre

Syria's foreign ministry spokesman has denied government troops were behind an attack on a string of villages that left more than 90 people dead. Friday's assault on Houla, an area northwest of the central city of Homs, was one of the bloodiest single events in Syria's 15-month-old uprising. Jihad Makdissi told reporters in Damascus at a news conference today that Syria is being subjected to a "tsunami of lies" blaming the government. He said anti-government gunmen carried the attack. "We categorically deny the responsibility of government forces for the massacre," Makdissi said.

Makdissi says a committee was sent to investigate the case and results should be out within three days. He added that UN envoy Kofi Annan will be in Syria tomorrow. And as Sky News notes, global backlash over the incident is mounting, with Hillary Clinton blasting the "atrocity," and calling for pressure on Bashar al-Assad and his "cronies. "Rule by murder and fear must come to an end," she said. (More Syria stories.)