Syrian troops bombarded rebel strongholds in the city of Homs, killing at least three people, opposition activists said.

 Activist Hadi al-Abdallah said that government forces shelled the neighbourhoods of al- Khalidiyeh, Jouret al-Jouz and al-Qussair.

Abu Alaa, a commander in the rebel Free Syrian Army in Homs, told dpa that government forces were using rocket launchers and helicopters in al-Kussair.

Syrian activists based in northern Lebanon said columns of black smoke were seen rising from al-Kussair, which is very close to the Lebanese border.