Red Cross says aid convoy heading to Syrian city of Homs

GENEVA – The International Committee of the Red Cross says an aid convoy carrying emergency supplies is heading to the Syrian city of Homs.

A spokesman for the Red Cross in Geneva says the convoy carrying seven truckloads of food and other items left the capital Damascus Friday morning.

Spokesman Hicham Hassan told The Associated Press that the convoy hopes to reach the city before noon despite snow slowing its progress.

Hassan says Syrian Red Crescent volunteers and ambulances are waiting in Homs and aid workers will try to enter the district of Baba Amr as soon as possible.

The Syrian government gave the Red Cross permission to enter the district that security forces took from rebels Thursday.