Supporters of Bashir al-Assad openly celebrate on the streets of the Syrian capital.<br/> <br />They're overjoyed by Russia and China's veto of a U.N resolution backing an Arab plan for the Syrian president to quit.<br/> <br />Hundreds thronged the Syrian capital waving flags and holding pictures of the embattled leader.<br/> <br />They thanked the two countries for supporting him.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Demonstrator, Noura Ghashash, (Arabic)<br/> <br />"We thank Russia and China and we say 'thank you'. You have backed us and a favourable view of us. The Arabs let us down. We thank you very much and God, Syria and Bashar only",<br/> <br />Russia says the plan it vetoed was an attempt at "regime change" in Syria, Moscow's only major Middle East ally.<br/> <br />The diplomatic setback comes in the light of reports of hundreds dead in the city of Homs, in the bloodiest night of the 11-month uprising.<br/> <br />Assad's opponents accuse him of conducting a bloody crackdown against those involved in the campaign to force him from power.<br/> <br />Masako Iijima Reports
