Syria sinks deeper into the bloodbath

Faces of defiance: a show of strength from Syrian rebels in Idlib, on a day of widespread demonstrations and continued killings (AP)

Syria's most populous city, Aleppo, was struck by a double suicide bombing yesterday, killing at least 28 people in an attack the regime described as proof that it was facing a "terrorist" uprising but which opposition activists alleged was another attempt to detract from government abuses.

The attacks came on a day of nationwide rallies against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. In Damascus, The Independent witnessed defiance as protesters flooded the streets after Friday prayers to show solidarity with the besieged city of Homs, only to be met by the regime's firepower.