Rebels Under Siege in Syria Plead For Medical Assistance and Reinforcements

Government forces and Lebanese militants continuing their assault

(Reuters)—Syrian rebels under siege in a town near the Lebanese border issued a desperate appeal on Thursday for reinforcements and medical supplies as government troops and Lebanese guerrillas pounded their defences.

Alongside a military offensive on Qusair and rebel-held Damascus suburbs, President Bashar al-Assad tried to drive home diplomatic advantage; he highlighted his foreign alliances in announcing the arrival of anti-aircraft missiles from Russia and militia from Lebanon's Hezbollah, and declared his willingness to attend a Geneva peace conference with his squabbling opponents.