Turkey plans to shut all border crossings with Syria, in response to escalating violence in its southern neighbour.<br/> <br />Syrian rebels seized control of several gates on the Syrian side of the frontier over the last week as their 16-month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad rages.<br/> <br />Seen here, amateur video purports to show a powerful explosion in the Syrian city of Rastan.<br/> <br />Another video, said to be shot in Homs, shows heavy shelling.<br/> <br />Reuters cannot independently verify the content of the videos, mainly due to Syrian media restrictions.<br/> <br />The Turkish closure will halt the passage of vehicles between Turkey and Syria.<br/> <br />Refugees from Syria, who have been fleeing into Turkey by the thousands to escape the conflict, cross the border through smuggling routes.<br/> <br />One of them, Abu Hassan, welcomed Turkey's decision.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN REFUGEE ABU HASAN SAYING:<br/> <br />"I think this is an appropriate decision. Turkey is making the decision to protect its border as well as to protect us,"<br/> <br />Tensions along the border were fuelled last month when Syrian air defences shot down a Turkish military reconnaissance jet.<br/> <br />Sarah Sheffer, Reuters
