Free Syrian Army takes heavy casualties in Damascus suburbs

President Bashar al-Assad's forces killed at least four civilians in an intensified tank and rocket bombardment on Sunni Muslim districts in the Syrian city of Homs on Saturday to put down a popular revolt demanding his removal, activists said.    

"This is the most violent barrage since the attack on Homs started six days ago. The four included a 55-year old woman.

They were killed by shelling that hit a building where they live in Bab Amro," opposition activist Mohammad Hassan told Reuters by satellite phone from Homs.    
The account could not be independently confirmed. Syria restricts access by most foreign journalists.  

On the other hand a firefight broke out on Friday in a poor district of Damascus between loyalist forces and rebels battling against President Bashar Assad's rule, a witness and activists said, the nearest fighting to the center of the city in an 11-month uprising.    

Members of the Free Syrian Army fought for four hours with armored backed troops who entered al-Qaboun neighborhood in the north of the capital, they said, adding that the rebels sustained several casualties but it was not known if any were killed.    

There was no word on any casualties among loyalist forces.