U.N. reports the safe withdrawal of people from the besieged area was now "imminent."

The pope asked Assad "to ensure that international humanitarian law is fully respected with regard to the protection of the civilians and access to humanitarian aid."

State lawmakers passed a measure to ban abortions in the state after 20 weeks after approving legislation that would ban abortions when a fetal heartbeat can be detected.

Those killed were mostly women and children. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack on Sunday.

The U.N. human rights office in Geneva said that multiple sources reported that tens of civilians were shot dead on Monday.

"Journalists don't know the difference between an archbishop and a cardinal; they think Catholics worship Mary; they think the pope controls what every bishop and priest says and does."