Video: Clinton condemns Syrian attack

>>> at a rare sunday meeting, the united nations security council condemned the government of syria for the slaughter of more than 90 children, many of them children, in houla. artillery and tank rounds were in fact fired into the town. richard epgel. engel.

>> reporter: as protesters in syria today angrily denounced the latest massacre, the government is trying to explain away an atrocity shocking even here. friday's massacre of 32 children, and 60 adults. entire families executed when syrian activists allege government troops shelled the town of houla and militia went house to house with knives and guns.

>> translator: the syrian government today presented a new twist to its usual usual deny yas.

>> reporter: syria is a victim it claimed, terrorists did the massacre and the foreign ministry says syria needs help to root them out.

>> translator: we recognize we have a crisis, said a spokesman, but the solution is not to strike at the country's stability, but to help syria . the same way the super powers are doing it with other countries. washington isn't buying it. in a statement, secretary clinton said the united states will intensify pressure on, quote, assad and his cronies whose rule by murder and fear must come to an end. specifically, washington plans to lobby russia, one of syria 's last remaining allies. the uk has also been sharply critical.

>> we're absolutely sickened, and the british government and the entire community over what we've seen the last couple of days.

>> reporter: in turkey today, activists protested in front of the syrian embassy.

>> we are now facing a unified.

>> reporter: while condemnations are building, immediate action against syria still seems unlikely. the united states has consistently opposed military intervention . critics say washington is hiding behind russian and chinese opposition, because military action would be too risky in an election year. so for now, washington is trying to rally an international anti-assad movement. it's a slow process. richard engel , nbc news, tel aviv .

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