Syrian Violence "Intensifying"

This is just coming in from the Jerusalem Post:

UN Monitor: Both Syrian Sides Intensifying Violence

Russia says it won't discuss post-Assad Syria; France may send Syrian rebels communications equipment to encourage a "stronger revolt"; activists: 34 killed, most by Assad's forces.

Both rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad are intensifying violence in Syria and striving for military gains rather than peaceful transition, the chief UN monitor in Syria, Major-General Robert Mood, said on Friday.

At least 34 people were killed in Syria on Friday, said the British-basedSyrian Observatory for Human Rights, most of them by Assad's forces. The group, which has a network of activists across Syria, said the death toll included at least six members of Assad's forces who were killed in clashes with rebels.

"Violence over the past 10 days has been intensified, again willingly by both parties, with losses on both sides and at significant risk to our observers," Mood told reporters in Damascus.

"There appears to be a lack of willingness to see a peaceful transition. Instead there is a push towards advancing military positions."

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said his worst fears were being realized in Syria.

"Our biggest fear was to reach this point that we are in today, it is almost at a state of civil war. We did what we could, unfortunately the situation is worse," he said on Turkish-language channel CNNTurk.