(CNN) -- Syrian opposition activists spoke Tuesday of being past the point of no return in their struggle against the al-Assad regime, which stepped up its siege on the city of Homs and reportedly launched fresh attacks across the country. At least 49 people were killed, according to the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria. The deaths included three defected Syrian soldiers, the group said. Deaths took place in Idlib, Homs, Daraa, Aleppo, Deir Ezzor, Hama, Damascus, the Damascus suburbs and Latakia, the group said. Fear and horror paralyzed residents of Homs, which was struck by heavy shelling; snipers prevented people from walking in the streets, opposition activists said.
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At least 49 people died Tuesday, opposition group says
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The opposition believes it is a fight to the death, CNN's Arwa Damon reports
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European Union considers new sanctions, diplomats say
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YouTube video shows a man pulling a child from a street amid apparent gunfire nearby
Two government buildings were bombed last week in the city, killing 28 people, @placeholder officials said.