Opposition activists in Syria say Government forces have launched an offensive on the city of Hama, firing rockets and machine guns from armoured cars in to residential areas.
In the city of Homs, residents say an explosion has hit a major oil pipeline feeding a refinery near a large Sunni Muslim district being bombarded by Government forces.
The pipeline, one of two in the country, has been hit several times before during the 11 month uprising against the President, Bashar al-Assad.
