Amateur video out of Syria appears to show smoke rising on the streets of Hama.<br/> A man can be heard saying the town's mosque is under attack.<br/> The video, which could not be independently verified by Reuters, comes as the Arab League prepares to begin its monitoring mission in Syria.<br/> More footage, purportedly from Homs shows a funeral service for nine residents reportedly killed over the past two days. The United Nations says President Bashar al Assad's crackdown has killed 5,000 people since March.<br/> Galvanized by a soaring death toll, Arab states have pushed Damascus to let in a team of about 150 observers to witness what is happening on the ground.<br/> More funerals in Idleb.<br/> As Assad has unleashed tanks and troops to try to crush a nine month old uprising mainly peaceful rallies are now increasingly eclipsed by an armed insurgency against his rule.<br/> Friday's blasts in central Damascus that killed at least 44 people signaled a dramatic escalation in violence. Syrian authorities say armed groups have killed 2,000 soldiers this year.<br/> Footage out of Damascus shows demonstrators back on the streets calling for the end of the regime.<br/> Syria has banned most independent media from the country making it difficult to verify accounts from activists or the government.<br/> Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
