A powerful bomb blast has rocked the Greek capital, gutting a government building in the latest show of violence ahead of critical national elections.

At least 45 women and kids were killed in Homs, opposition activists said, after the U.N. special envoy to Syria and the country’s leader discussed ending violence.

Syrians are voting on a new constitution that could theoretically end the five decades of one-party rule which has sparked the wave of violent protests across the country.

The Red Cross has started evacuating women, children and injured victims from the besieged Syrian city of Homs as world leaders urged an end to the violence.

Greece’s future in the eurozone is the subject of a crucial meeting in Brussels later as violence erupted in Athens.

The UN Security Council is expected to vote on a resolution backing an Arab peace plan for Syria, amid fresh reports of mass killings in Homs

Violence has escalated in Syria leaving scores dead after the Arab League decided to halt its observer mission, with the government launching a campaign to re-take parts of Damascus that had fallen under rebel control.

At least 64 people were killed in Syria on Sunday, according to an opposition activist group, as the Arab League suspended a monitoring mission designed to protect Syrian civilians from government-sponsored violence.

The Syrian government condemns a decision by the Arab League to suspend its monitoring mission inside Syria, amid increasing violence.

The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, amid an upsurge in violence.