Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic Surgery ? Definition and Overview

According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery is a subspecialty of medicine and surgery that uniquely restricts itself to the enhancement of appearance through surgical and medical techniques. It is specifically concerned with maintaining normal appearance, restoring it, or enhancing it beyond the average level toward some aesthetic ideal.

Cosmetic Surgery is a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive approach directed to all areas of the head, neck, and body. The Cosmetic Surgeon offers specialized expertise in patient education and counseling, procedural skills, and the early recognition and treatment of complications.?

Competency in Cosmetic Surgery implies a combination of; knowledge, surgical judgment, technical expertise and ethics in order to achieve the goal of providing aesthetic improvement.

SmartHealthbuyer.com and help with selecting the appropriate cosmetic surgery

SmartHealthbuyer.com has compiled information regarding cosmetic surgeon across 300 metro areas in the United States, offering various specialized cosmetic surgery treatments. Broadly speaking Cosmetic Surgery can be classified into three types, the general cosmetic surgery, facial cosmetic surgery, and dermatologic cosmetic surgery. By accessing SmartHealthBuyer.com you can study all this information and more!

For example, SmartHealthbuyer.com will provide you access to details about various treatment plans being offered in each of these subcategories and some very popular cosmetic surgeries being performed currently are, eyelid raises, facelifts, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction, buttock implants, breast lifts, breast reduction, Botox, lip augmentation, dermabrasion, spider vein treatment, mole removal, collagen injections, facial rejuvenations and a whole plethora of treatment plans which include cellulite treatments, gastric bypass, laser hair removals, and mesotherapy etc.,

SmartHealthbuyer.com will help you find out about the latest treatments being offered in cosmetic surgery which is much simpler than sifting through 100s of websites to understand what is new in the industry. Later, of course, you can do your own research also and confirm findings.

Treatment cost and availing the best price for your cosmetic surgery treatment plan

Arriving at the best price for the cosmetic surgery treatment chosen by you can become a huge challenge if you aren?t aware of the rates being charged by cosmetic surgeons for various treatment plans.

At SmartHealthbuyer.com you can find out and go through the price lists of various cosmetic surgery treatment plans being offered.

By providing the details of your location, state, city, and zip code, at SmartHealthbuyer.com you will be able to go through the entire database of listed cosmetic surgeons and the price lists for treatment plans in your preferred location. Of course, prices could vary depending upon location, experience and expertise of the cosmetic surgeon, and also the extent of surgery required, but through the SmartHealthbuyer.com price engine you will be able to calculate an estimated cost per treatment plan. At SmartHealthbuyer.com you can also compare rates offered by various cosmetic surgeons and arrive at an average price for the chosen treatment. All these details and costs will help you arrive at the best price offered and make sure you are aware of the rates that are being charged for such treatments and plan your finances accordingly. Please note that pricing alone is NOT a good indication of the quality of care you can expect. SmartHealthBuyer makes is easier to compare Practitioners, as well as to check their experience and qualifications.

Locating an expert cosmetic surgeon with SmartHealthbuyer.com

Going in for cosmetic surgery is commendable and to perform cosmetic surgery according to your specifications and requirement you need an expert in the filed. Locating an experienced cosmetic surgeon can pose a huge challenge. To help you with this SmartHealthbuyer.com has created a business directory with the details, credentials, and reviews of cosmetic surgeons across 300 city areas in the United States.

By logging into SmartHealthbuyer.com and providing the details of your city, state, and zip code you will be able to access information and details for all the listed cosmetic surgeons in the SmartHealthbuyer.com database. This information will help you go through cosmetic surgeons in your area and you will be able to short-list names of possible cosmetic surgeons that meet your requirement and criteria.

What to look for in a cosmetic surgeon?

Deciding on a good cosmetic surgeon is extremely important because cosmetic surgery is an experts? job and the precision, care, and expertise with which surgery is handled becomes doubly critical because besides enhancing your appearance the surgeon should ensure that there is no other damage caused in the process.

Most importantly your cosmetic surgeon should ascertain your level of fitness and establish that you do not have any other medical history or conditions that come in the way of cosmetic surgery and result in any untoward incident later.

Take the case of Donda West, former chairwoman of Chicago State University?s English department and mother of famous rap artist Kanye West. Donda had undergone plastic surgery prior to her death. Though was Donda was advised against plastic surgery by her first surgeon, Dr. Andre Aboolian, Donda decided to go ahead with the surgery and approached another plastic surgeon, Dr. Jan Adams, of TV show, ?Before and After? claim.?

Dr. Adams performed tummy tucks and breast reduction surgeries on Ms. West who died later. According to plastic surgeon Dr. Adams, Ms. West died from a heart attack, pulmonary embolism or massive vomiting.?

The question is, if another plastic surgeon, Dr. Andre Aboolian, had refused surgery on Ms. West because of an underlying health risk, how could Dr. Adam?s go ahead with the procedures? Medical board records show that Dr. Adams had two malpractice suits filed against him. According to Associated Press reports, Dr. Adams has a history of DUI, two malpractice suits in the years 2001 and 2003.

It is therefore mandatory that you check, verify, confirm and research all information available before selecting a cosmetic surgeon. At SmartHealthbuyer.com will make it easier for you to look up credentials, certifications, experience, qualifications, and educational background of all the cosmetic surgeons listed in the SmartHealthbuyer.com database.?

At SmartHealthbuyer.com you will be able read reviews, recommendations, and references provided by various patients for the listed cosmetic surgeons, which will enable you to establish the experience and expertise of available cosmetic surgeons in your area. Once you have the details of experienced cosmetic surgeons, you can do a further study by visiting their websites on the internet and confirm the findings. Save yourself a lot of time, energy, and effort log on to SmartHealthbuyer.com and access our database for all that you want to know about cosmetic surgery treatment plans, best prices, and expert cosmetic surgeons who value your life and looks!

Source: http://www.a1article.net/health-and-fitness/cosmetic-surgery-6433.html

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Montreal Skiing Canada Recreation :Downhill Skiing Magic

Golf Resorts: Where to Play in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica & the Caribbean

$9.99

Golf resorts?it's a specialized niche for a savvy group that knows what it wants. What they want is golf, so the Nicols have devoted pages of attention to yardage and par, green fees, and special course features for hundreds of golf courses from Canada to Costa Rica. But there are other facets to consider as well, because the point here is to take a vacation, a golf vacation, where you get to luxuriate in your scenic vistas, eat your sumptuous meals, and play your 18 holes, too. From Casa De Campo Resort in the Dominican Republic to the Hound Ears Club in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, there are resorts for all sorts, with rustic lodges or posh hotels; full-scale gourmet pampering or low-key environments; all-golf, all-the-time atmospheres; or resorts that offer the works?tennis, fishing, sailing, or skiing?for the spouses who just aren't as intent on golf, perhaps, as you. The important thing is that all types of golf holidays are possible, and the Nicols have done the legwork so all you have to do is browse, choose, and make the reservations. "? the most useful guidebook? a great reference." ? The Traveling Golfer "If you love golf, Golf Resorts is for you." ? Relax Magazine " Make sure you have a copy on hand. This tome is the only pre-trip guide you'll need to research not only golf courses, but nearby lodging, restaurants, and additional recreation ? for after-golf or non-golfing spouses. The book covers more than 600 courses. The authors have rated the top 50, breaking those down into 38 large and 12 small resorts." ? Northwest Airlines WorldTraveler Magazine "A guide written by golfers for golfers. Hundreds of resorts are described in this book, with details including fees, course profile (par, hazards, yardage), resident pro information, accommodations (with prices), dining options and equipment rentals. All establishments are open to the public." ? Amazon reviewer

Source: http://www.nordicsub.com/montreal-skiing-canada-recreation/

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Outdoor Racquetball Court ? 51 LOL

This indicates an average velocity and rebound. Ektelon, Penn ProKennex and blue make a racket. These balls have similar speeds, although the Ektelon Premium Select and balls ProKennex seems to have more bounce. The Penn Ultra-Blue is one of the most popular recreational players. These come in two flavors: Penn Ballistic 2.0 and Ektelon Fireball (ProKennex makes a similar orange). These balls are the fastest and heavy out there. His speed and color are especially ideal for outdoor play. The fireball Ektelon Racquetball is the official ball of the World Outdoor Racquetball (WOR). The balls of purple and green are the Pro Penn Penn balls. These are faster than the blue, but not as fast as red. These balls are very busy in court and are standard equipment in most sanctioned tournaments. Many people prefer the purple ball because of their greater visibility in the field. The Pro Penn HD Racquetball is the official ball of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Ektelon has a line of classic black. These are the oldest style of ball in racquetball and this is slower, lighter and softer. The ball game this can often result in longer rallies and is popular among top players. The Ektelon Classic Black Racquetball is the official ball of the Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT). Lisardo Atrium CFC. Press-On Friday, February 25 marks a year of sensitive physical disappearance of Dr. William Valentiner, who in life was the great father and founder of the Sports Organization Alligators, Crocodiles Caracas FC and Caracas. All who knew him knew the extraordinary person who was Dr. Valentiner and those who did not have that pleasure, that pleasure, know that William was an entrepreneur, visionary, proactive and hardworking. William had the courage to get to Caracas FC a October 4, 1989, during that time took the firm decision to assume full responsibility of all capital, which for those days, was in danger of disappearing as a professional team. It all started in the season 89-90. The fate of Caracas FC, by then owned companies Yamaha and Radio Caracas Television, remained uncertain. The lack of financial support and poor performance with the team ended last season (88-89), contributed to the instability of the box rather than capital and its possible extinction. On Sunday, October 1989, Dr. Valentiner read in a newspaper of the capital Caracas FC will not show his commitment to the Deportivo Italia and Caracas in danger the franchise's first division professional soccer in Venezuela. On Monday, no time, brings together the leaders of your organization to inform them of the situation and to express concern about the possibility that capital runs out of football franchise, and instructed to try at least, achieve the permanence of the club in national football. In the afternoon on Tuesday, October 3 meeting occurs with the directors of Caracas FC and already the next day, Crocodile Sports Organization officially assumed responsibility for the team. On Sunday, with only three days of training, the faces in Caracas In recent years Panama has been highlighted by the construction of huge and luxurious skyscrapers compete in design, height and luxury, but as in all cases there are always some projects that stand out among the rest for its price and exclusivity. Capital consulted estate brokers to find out what bins were currently most exclusive buildings of Panama for its price and location. According to Jose Gabriel Montenegro, Group Commercial Director and Osvaldo Marchena Haus, director of International Sales Tribaldos, the price of a department usually is determined by a seven variables, including location, view, value added, finishes, exclusivity, size and status. Currently the most expensive areas of Panama City are those with direct ocean view, and Balboa Avenue, Punta Pacifica, San Francisco, the East Coast and Amador, where the square meter (m2) ranges between $ 2,500 and $ 4,400. For these executives, the most expensive buildings in these areas stand out from the rest of their extras. Today is no longer enough to have a pool and recreation area, the condumios with Spa and added values ??such as Trump Tower, with a hotel are in great demand because their residents can use the hotel services at any time, whether to go eat or hang out distractions, without having to leave his residence. The finishes also are important, since it is not the same as having an apartment with Italian marble tiles. This includes floor lamps and kitchen ceilings. The status gives it the prestige of the building itself, such as Trump Tower, a world renowned franchise. This property also offers access to a private island, which is something no other building is in the city. Montenegro or Marchena agreed that if you look at all these variables can determine which are now the most expensive and exclusive buildings in Panama. They stressed that if they are divided by zones, we have highlighted in Punta Pacifica Trump Tower, currently the most expensive and exclusive building in Panama, with a price of $ 4,400 per m2. On average, apartments in the tower range from $ 400,000 to $ 1,000,000, depending on their size. This mass of cement has 72 stories high and more than 260,000 m2 and is destined to become a world-class reference and an architectural icon. Among its innovations include a five star hotel, spa, indoor pool, designer boutiques and shops, gourmet restaurants, beach club, yacht club, business center and an international casino. The Yoo Panama is a luxury tower comprised of 234 56-story oceanfront condominium, designed by renowned architect Philippe Starck. Account, among other luxuries with panoramic windows from floor to ceiling, living room, bathroom with stone tile floors and washed porcelain Italian kitchens with stone finishes, stainless steel appliances and high-speed Internet. The Arts Tower will have 80 floors, with apartments of 1 and 2 reamaras priced around $ 360,000. It has a double height lobby, maid service, high speed elevators, valet parking and 24 hour security. To this we must add a unique design pool, BBQ area and outdoor bar, spa with sauna and massage rooms, gymnasium, racquetball and tennis events. Other costs of the apartments over the city are in the Amador area, specifically in Aquamarine, which is priced at $ 2,550 per m2. The prices of these small buildings are basically the only ones that are currently in the area of ??Amador. It has green areas and park with tennis courts, panoramic view and close to the Causeway with outdoor racquetball court its restaurants, shopping malls, marinas, convention center and paved area for outdoor activities. Its social area with gazebos, swimming pool for adults and children and a gazebo. The apartments have one bedroom with bath, walk-in.-closet and balcony, dining room, guest bathroom, balcony, kitchen, laundry room and bathroom. In the area of ??Costa del Este highlights two Vitri Torres, at a cost of $ 2,400 per m2 and the Ocean Tower whose value reaches $ 2,500 per m2. Vitri Tower is built on Paseo del Mar and will have 72 stories high. The apartments are between 382 and 358 m2, with a penhouse of 610 m2 and a large 1,000 m2 penhouse. This tower has a swimming pool, putting green, beach volleyball court, sauna, basketball court, racquetball court, squash court, gazebo and barbecue area. The social area is 300 m2 with swimming pool for adults and children, a mini golf course in 7 holes, beach volleyball court, jacuzzi, sauna, basketball court, racquetball court, squash court, gazebo and barbecue area. For the local economy these apartments may seem expensive, but be aware that most of these projects were designed for international clients who are used to pay much more for homes in other parts of the world. "A president of a multinational company that used to paying $ 20,000 per square meter in Hong Kong or London, he meets Panama and its projects end up buying two and three apartments, because these prices are nothing for their income," said Montenegro. It is true that prices have uploaded. But as the author says, there are plenty of customers who would like to pay these prices

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Source: http://www.51lol.com/outdoor-racquetball-court/

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Impulse Fitness Club Squash Court ll Qingdao Sports & Recreation ...

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Source: http://romero18.typepad.com/blog/2012/03/impulse-fitness-club-squash-court-ll-qingdao-sports-recreation.html

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How Stigma Hurts Us ? Healthcare Alternative Systems

There is only one thing I follow more closely than?articles that relate to Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), and that is?the comment section that follows these articles.

As I mentioned before in an earlier?post about Sonia?Hermosillo, articles on?PMADs usually highlight?recent cases?of infanticide,?which (contrary to popular belief) is more likely the result of Postpartum Psychosis than a?Postpartum Mood Disorder. (Want to know what the difference is? Click here.)

This week, one of my colleagues forwarded me?an article about?Lorna Valle , a mother?charged with infanticide in Los Angeles.?While?I was certainly?pleased that the article forwarded to me was written?with a great deal of sensitivity to the complex issues surrounding this tragic case, I was deeply troubled by the?harsh judgments?embedded in many of the comments.

Of course, I am sympathetic to the fact that infanticide is a topic that angers many people.?Infanticide should infuriate us, because it doesn?t need to happen. What saddens me is?that there are people whom, without thorough knowledge of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Postpartum Psychosis OR the circumstances surrounding specific cases would be so quick to judge the women and their family members.

Making judgments such as these without examining the details is a detriment to the families who are going through this awful tragedy, and also to?women?struggling?with PMADs. Our lack of thorough understanding and?persecutory attitudes towards women who are suffering with these horrendous illnesses contributes to the many thousands?who?suffer in silence because they are afraid to seek help.

While I am certainly not softening the reality of?a child?dying at the hands of a mother, I am suggesting we put all judgment aside and ask ourselves these important questions:?Did the mother have a prior history of violence towards her children? (In most cases of Postpartum Psychosis, the answer is no). Did she? receive competent care from an expert in treating Postpartum Psychosis? (If not, there is no way to be sure that whomever was treating her was capable of recognizing the real risks and responding appropriately). Did she have a supportive spouse, friends,?and extended family? (If not, it is unlikely that she would have had enough support to examine ?other options? that many people mention in their commentary).

I am not making an excuse for anyone here, but I am saying that Postpartum Psychosis is an illness that, under?specific circumstances,?can cause?ANY highly functional woman to take the life of her child. In many cases these are women who are described as healthy, outgoing, loving, responsible, social, professional, and are?well-loved by many. These are women whose spouses and families would never, ever in their wildest dreams imagine that this could happen to them. Which is why competent care is important?Nobody could possibly estimate the risk unless they know EXACTLY what they are looking for. The symptoms of psychosis are often very subtle in these women.

I?d like to share some?examples of the comments I found to?be particularly?troubling.?Please note that I am in no way attempting?to disrespect the?commentators. I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinions, but?I am simply highlighting the ways in which our statements, especially when uninformed, can be harmful someone who desperately needs help.

[Her husband]?could have got her locked up in a mental hospital for (its 72 hours here) and gotten her checked out.

While I wholeheartedly agree that there are times in which involuntary hospitalization are necessary to protect mom and baby, there is no compassion in the?language used here. ?Locking someone up in a mental hospital? implies two things. First of all, it implies that?a woman who is struggling with mental illess is ?crazy? and should have her freedom taken away. Second, it implies that hospitalization by itself?can cure, fix, or solve the problem.

Hospitalization can be useful when a woman needs to be stabilized. It can help her get caught up on sleep, and can provide a safe environment in which medications can be stabilized. But I have never, ever seen a woman walk out of a hospital cured of a PMAD. She still requires medication, therapy, and loving support from family and friends long after her hospital stay.

Why would any parent let a mentally ill parent near their kids alone?

If 1 out of every?5 people has a mental illness, then it?s guaranteed that?there are a lot of ?mentally ill parents? out there doing a perfectly fine job parenting.? Frankly, it worries me that there are still people out there who believe that simply having a mental illness warrants having? human rights taken away.

Seriously, I work in a doctors ofc and i swear nine out of ten women who walk thru the door seeking antidepressants are white women, i don?t get it [.]

The woman mentioned in the article is from Guatemala, therefore?I am assuming that?this commentator?is referring to the fact that in many cases, Caucasian women are far more likely to reach out for services.? While all women are at risk of developing PMADs,??PMADs are more prevalent among Hispanic and African American women, and/or women of lower socioeconomic groups.?Women are more/less likely to seek services because of?cultural attitudes and?access to resources, which we know can be limited among women in lower socioeconomic groups.

I?m so sick of the I was depressed so I hurt/killed my kids. Hope they provide some help for you in jail because no matter what is wrong with you?you?re a murderer plain and simple.

Depression does not cause women to?kill their children. Postpartum Psychosis, coupled with inadequate or inaccessible?treatment/support can and does. There is a major distinction between women who kill their children because of Postpartum Psychosis, and women who kill because of underlying sociopathic tendencies. All?women have a right to be examined and judged based on every single circumstance of her case.

Women who commit infanticide because of untreated or ineffectively treated Postpartum Psychosis ARE victims. As a professional in this field, I know how difficult it is to find competent care when you?re struggling with such a serious and largely misunderstood affliction. It is not as simple as ?getting help? because in many cases, specialized help literally?does not exist. These women and children?ARE victims, because they are falling through the cracks, plain and simple.

If the father knew the wife was depressed and needed help (which sounds like he did) ?he should have never left the children with her alone. ?He is as much to blame as anyone. ?It is like giving a depressed person a gun.

Unless a mental health?professional A) Recognized the seriousness of her illness, and B) Clearly instructed her husband and other family members?to make sure someone was with her at all times, there is NO WAY this man could be held accountable for his wife?s actions. He is obviously not a trained mental health professional, and although he was concerned about his wife?s behavior and wellbeing, there is no way he could have known how to appropriately respond to the situation without the guidance of someone well versed in this illness.

I?m so tired of hearing how all these people are victims?victim is an excuse. She could?ve walked away. She could?ve did a million other things than what she did.

Neither you nor I know the circumstances surrounding this woman?s life, so we cannot even begin to?presume what she (probably in a state of psychosis) could or could not have done. However, it seems to me that her husband did seek help on her behalf. Since we do not know any of the details of what treatments were tried (and we should not assume), there is no way of knowing from our vantage point who is to ?blame.? That being said, if she is anything like many of the hispanic women I see in my office, it is possible that she truly had nobody to turn to.

[P]eople who think she is victim because of postpartum depression, you are as guilty as her.

Denying?that inadequately treated?Postpartum Mental Illness can cause such a tragedy is the only crime here. If we acknowledge?that roughly 20 percent of ALL postpartum women become victims of these illnesses, and we resolve to do something about it (screening at postpartum and well baby visits, and referring to specialists), we won?t need to argue about who is guilty.

One of my greatest wishes is that one day, women will not have to be afraid of seeking help. And when they seek help, they will be met with the expertise, compassion, and support they so desperately need to be well again. When a woman is out of control because of a mental illness, she cannot possibly be fully responsible for herself, which is why it is OUR responsibility to educate ourselves and do everything within our power to provide care that will truly make a difference.

If you are concerned that you or someone you love may be experiencing a Perintatal Mood or Anxiety Disorder, contact Postpartum Support International.?They can help you find experts in your area who can help you or your loved one recover. If you are in the Chicago Area, contact the Postpartum Depression Program at Healthcare Alternative Systems at 773-292-4242.

Source: http://www.hascares.org/2012/03/how-stigma-hurts-us/

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Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video)

It's a couple of months since we spotted paperwork for a mysterious "PTK-450" device at the FCC and now Wacom has finally revealed the gadget that goes with the label. The Intuos5 tablet is available to purchase immediately in Small (4 x 6 inches), Medium (6 x 8) and Large (13 x 8) sizes, priced at £200, £330 and £430 respectively. We're still waiting on confirmation of US pricing, but it'll no doubt be less than what a straight currency conversion suggests (i.e. somewhere below $320, $525 and $680). There's actually a fourth variant to add to the trio, but it's not an XL -- Wacom is hoping to up-sell you to a Cintiq 21UX or Cintiq 24HD if you want something bigger. Instead, the fourth tablet is a version of the Medium that comes without touch sensitivity, bringing the price down to £270 if you're able to live with pen-only input. Opting for this particular model will remove one of the biggest upgrades in this three-year product cycle: the ability of the Intuos5 to sense up to 16 finger-touches simultaneously, rather than just the nib of the pen. But there have been other revisions since the Intuos4 aside from touch, and you only have to read on to discover what those are.

Continue reading Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video)

Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Syrian troops advance on rebel-held area of Homs

Residents stand by their house destroyed in clashes between the Free Syrian Army and President Assad's forces in Sarmin, north of Syria, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. According to residents of the city at least fourteen people were killed yesterday during clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the government forces. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Residents stand by their house destroyed in clashes between the Free Syrian Army and President Assad's forces in Sarmin, north of Syria, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. According to residents of the city at least fourteen people were killed yesterday during clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the government forces. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Free Syrian Army soldiers gather outside a house destroyed in fighting against President Assad's forces in Sarmin, north of Syria, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. According to the residents of the city at least fourteen people were killed yesterday during clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the government forces. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

BEIRUT (AP) ? Syrian troops advanced Wednesday on a key rebel-held area in the central city of Homs, where three Western journalists are trapped by a government assault that has raged for weeks. The forces appeared to be starting a ground operation to retake the area that has become a symbol of the uprising to oust President Bashar Assad.

Government forces have been heavily shelling Homs, and particularly the rebel-controlled Baba Amr neighborhood, for more than three weeks with tanks, artillery and rockets. The announcement by a Syrian official of the new troop advance indicated a ground assault was beginning to recapture Baba Amr.

A Syrian official vowed Baba Amr would be "cleaned" within hours. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Four Western journalists ? two of them wounded ? had been trapped in Baba Amr since last week, when two other foreign reporters were killed there by a government attack. On Tuesday, Syrian rebels smuggled out Paul Conroy, one of the four journalists, and whisked him safely across the border into Lebanon. Activists said 13 Syrians involved in the rescue operation were killed during it.

The French government confirmed Wednesday that two French reporters remained trapped in Baba Amr, Edith Bouvier of Le Figaro and William Daniels. Bouvier and Conroy were wounded last week in the same attack that killed American journalist Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik.

The French Foreign Ministry demanded that the Syrian regime ensure conditions that allow for the "sure and rapid evacuation" of the two French journalists, "notably through an immediate cease-fire in Baba Amr."

"France is mobilized to accomplish the priority evacuation of its two citizens blocked in Homs, in liaison with Syrian authorities," as well as the Red Cross and Red Crescent, ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said.

He said the government will not comment further for security reasons.

Spanish reporter Javier Espinosa, who works for the major Spanish daily El Mundo, also remained trapped in Baba Amr, El Mundo said on Wednesday. The paper said it had spoken briefly to him on Tuesday evening and he said he was "ok." The paper said it did not think Espinosa is injured and did not know where he is staying.

Troops also entered the central town of Halfaya in the province of Hama, near Homs, after five days of intense shelling, activists said. They said the rebel-held town of Rastan, just north of Homs, was subjected to shelling and casualties were reported.

On Tuesday, the U.N. raised its death toll for the almost year-long uprising to 7,500, an increase of 2,000 from just two months earlier. Syrian activists say the toll has surpassed 8,000, nearly 6,000 of them civilians and the rest military forces or army defectors fighting the regime.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Tuesday cited a U.N. expert panel's report that concluded Syrian government officials were responsible for "crimes against humanity" committed by security forces against opposition members. The alleged crimes included shelling civilians, executing deserters and torturing detainees. Some opposition groups, too, had committed gross abuses, the report alleged.

Activists say hundreds of people have been killed in Baba Amr since Feb. 4, when the assault on Homs began. Activists and residents inside Baba Amr could not be reached early Wednesday.

Syria's state-run news agency said three gunmen were killed and others were wounded as they tried to cross from Lebanon into Homs province. The agency said a Syrian soldiers was wounded in the clash.

Also Wednesday, China urged world powers to provide humanitarian assistance to Syria, as Beijing tries to bolster diplomacy while continuing to oppose any armed outside intervention in the conflict.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi broached the idea of assistance in telephone conversations this week with the head of the Arab League and the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Algeria.

China defied Western powers and the Arab League by joining Russia to veto a U.N. resolution that outlined plans to end the conflict and condemned Assad's crackdown on anti-government forces. China was concerned the resolution would pave the way for the West to intervene and unseat an authoritarian government as it had in Libya.

___

Bassem Mroue can be reached on twitter at http://twitter.com/bmroue

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-02-29-ML-Syria/id-3bf1ec6daba94435a4967dc21f729c38

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