President Barack Obama issued a statement calling the attack on Homs “an unspeakable assault” by Assad’s regime on citizens.

“Assad must halt his campaign of killing and crimes against his own people now. He must step aside and allow a democratic transition to proceed immediately,” Obama said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that consensus is possible on a resolution if other Security Council members take a “constructive approach” to Russia’s proposed changes, Itar-Tass news agency reported.