The Syrian government says it is trying to evacuate civilians from the city of Homs, blaming rebel fighters for obstructing efforts to get people out safely.<br/> <br />Activists, however, say the army has intensified shelling of residential districts of Homs, the centre of the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.<br/> <br />This amateur video said to be shot on June 18, which Reuters cannot independently verify, purports to show Syrian troops firing mortars in Homs.<br/> <br />The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says around 1,000 families were surrounded in the city, under fire from the army and security forces.<br/> <br />They also said that dozens of wounded people were in danger because of a lack of medical equipment.<br/> <br />Sarah Sheffer, Reuters
