CONTAINS AMATEUR VIDEO THAT CANNOT BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED BY REUTERS<br/> <br />Heavy fighting in Damascus as Syrian forces bombard the capital from the air and by land.<br/> <br />Amateur video that could not be independently verified by Reuters purportedly- showed Syrian army tanks rolling into the city - part of an assault to shore up President Bashar al-Assad's grip on the area.<br/> <br />Opposition forces said at least 40 people were killed in the city on Wednesday ... a day after human rights groups said more than 250 died in fighting throughout the country.<br/> <br />Around Damascus, the army reportedly used tanks and helicopters in an offensive this week - that coincided with the departure of United Nations military observers.<br/> <br />After their four-month long mission - U.N. observers continued to leave the country - after their mandate expired on Sunday.<br/> <br />The monitors had hoped to see a ceasefire between Assad's forces and the rebels - but instead witnessed Syria's spiraling conflict.<br/> <br />The last monitors are due to leave the country by Friday.
