Fate of Syria at stake - Assad
The conflict between rebels and government forces across Syria will decide the fate of the nation, President Bashar al-Assad has warned.
In a written statement marking armed forces day, he praised soldiers for confronting "armed terrorist gangs".
The anti-regime uprising has seen fighting on the streets of the capital Damascus and the second city Aleppo.
The latest reports suggest fighting has broken out for the first time near two Christian areas in the Old City of Damascus.
Richard Galpin reports from the border with Turkey.