He went further than any of the other Friends of Syria nations meeting in Tunis Friday to increase pressure on Assad to call for a cease-fire, step down and allow humanitarian aid to flow to hard-hit areas.

Asked at the start of a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton if he thought arming the Syrian opposition was a good idea, the prince said: “I think it’s an excellent idea.” Asked why, he said, “Because they have to protect themselves.”

Clinton warned that Syria’s rulers have squandered every chance for peace and, if they do not let aid reach civilians, will have even more blood on their hands.

At least 39 people were killed Friday in Syria as Assad’s forces shelled the protest city of Homs for the 21st straight day and tens of thousands rallied nationwide to demand his ouster.

“Baba Amr is being brought down on the heads of its inhabitants,” wrote one activist who posted online footage of the bombing. “O, Arabs and Muslims, why don’t you react?” he asked.

The main opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) sought on Friday to reassure Syrian Kurds and other minorities that they would have a place in the largely Sunni Arab country in the event of Assad being pushed out of power.

Arab and Western nations called for an immediate end to violence in the country and new sanctions on the Assad regime.

In a final declaration, the group called for Syria's government to "immediately cease all violence" to allow humanitarian access and "committed to take steps to apply and enforce restrictions and sanctions on the regime."