'Defections' in al-RastanThere were reports that the security forces opened fire on protesters at several of the demonstrations on Friday, and that there were also
clashes between troops who have joined the protesters and those loyal to Assad.Amateur videos posted online by activists show
thousands of people shouting in support of the army defectors in al-Rastan, which is home to 40,000 and is located 180km north of Damascus. "Rastan will overthrow the regime," read one banner waved by protesters in the Damascus neighbourhood of Qadam.
Many of the protesters were seen expressing solidarity with residents of the town of al-Rastan, just north of Homs, where fighting has been raging for three days between pro- and anti-government troops.
State media say that seven government soldiers have been killed and 32 wounded in those clashes, and that the army had "inflicted big losses on the armed terrorist groups". Opposition activists say the number of people killed in al-Rastan is 32.
http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2011/09/20119301527522457.html