Rebels at Homs' doorstep, seize two more towns

THOUSANDS of people fled the central Syrian city of Homs, the country's third largest, as insurgents seized two towns on the outskirts on Friday, positioning themselves for an assault on a potentially major prize in their march against President Bashar Assad.

The move, reported by pro-government media and an opposition war monitor, was the latest in the stunning advances by opposition fighters over the past week that have so far met little resistance from the forces of President Assad.

A day earlier, fighters captured the central city of Hama, Syria's fourth largest, after the army said it withdrew to avoid fighting inside the city and spare the lives of civilians.