Syrian soldiers vow to protect their nation, and the revolution.<br/> <br />These are army defectors in Idlib who say they will defend their compatriots against the government forces of President Bashar al-Assad.<br/> <br />Elsewhere in Idlib a similar scene, as yet another group of soldiers pledges to protect civilians rising up against four decades of autocratic Assad family rule.<br/> <br />The government's crackdown on the insurgency has been intensifying.<br/> <br />Activists say security forces killed at least 100 people on Tuesday in attacks on Homs and raids on villages and towns in Idlib, near Turkey.<br/> <br />Homs has been the focus of the rebellion and has born the brunt of the violence.<br/> <br />With most foreign journalists banned from Syria, videos like these from social media websites are often the only way that the outside world can view the turmoil.<br/> <br />Washington, which is preparing a 'Friends of Syria' meeting of Western and Arab states opposing Assad, has not ruled out eventually arming the rebel forces.<br/> <br />The Red Cross meanwhile is calling for daily ceasefires to allow urgently needed aid into the worst hit areas.<br/> <br />Simon Hanna, Reuters.
