Buildings burn in the besieged Syrian city of Homs.

This amateur video posted to a social media website purports to show the aftermath of government attacks on the city.

Activists say the fire in this building was caused by a mortar shell fired by government forces.

And bullets ricochet off this minaret as it comes under automatic weapons fire.

Elsewhere, in the southern flashpoint city of Deraa, fires burn on the streets after tanks moved through the area.

Reuters cannot independently verify the content of the videos.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stands accused of killing thousands of civilians in a year-long crackdown on anti-government protests.

The U.N. says the civilian death toll now stands at nearly eight thousand - a number denied by Syria's regime.

They instead claim that armed 'terrorist' groups have killed thousands of security forces.

Travis Brecher, Reuters