Counting gets underway in a referendum on the Syrian constitution that does offer some reforms, yet could keep President Bashar al-Assad in power until 2028.<br/> <br />The reforms allow political pluralism and impose a presidential limit of two seven-year terms, but this limit is not retrospective - implying that Assad could serve another two terms after his current one ends in 2014.<br/> <br />Diplomats who toured polling stations in the capital Damascus reported seeing only a handful of voters.<br/> <br />Meanwhile, video uploaded to a social media website - which Reuters cannot independently verify - purports to show continued shelling of the Baba Amro district of Homs.<br/> <br />The speaker says this is the 24th day the city has been attacked.<br/> <br />An opposition activist said the bombardment began at dawn, and that two people had been killed.<br/> <br />The International Committee of the Red Cross has said conditions in parts of Homs are worsening by the hour, but has failed to secure a pause in the fighting to allow evacuation of the wounded and delivery of aid.<br/> <br />Peaceful protests in Syria began nearly one year ago, but the brutal regime response has now spawned an armed insurrection.<br/> <br />Nick Rowlands, Reuters
