Jubilation on the streets of Homs as Syrian rebels made their way to a key checkpoint in a military vehicle -- according to video posted to a social media website which Reuters cannot independently confirm.
One man offered thanks as volunteers in the Free Syrian Army seized the Bustan al Deiwan checkpoint. Excited locals climbed on top of military vehicles they say they commandeered from retreating government forces If true, the capture of the outpost could signal fatigue on the part of the government's well armed and better funded forces.
Other video obtained by Reuters earlier in the week --- a member of the Free Syrian Army describes life in Homs
SOUNDBITE: Bilal Homsi, a volunteer fighter in the Free Syria army saying (Arabic):
''There is a checkpoint nearby, it's called the Bustan al-Diwan checkpoint and another one called the Ka-alah, which is the most dangerous. On the Ka-alah checkpoint, there are snipers, you find that they are always passing time in this street, shooting on everything that passes, they hunt them, they think that human beings are animals or birds that they can hunt on a daily basis.''
Reports of a rebel advance in Homs came as reports of gunfire in Deraa.
What role the international community will play in Syria's future was still unclear on Thursday. Russia has said it will veto any U.N. resolution that calls for military intervention that could threaten Assad's regime.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.