Assad supporters celebrate

Supporters of Bashir al-Assad openly celebrate on the streets of the Syrian capital.

They're overjoyed by Russia and China's veto of a U.N resolution backing an Arab plan for the Syrian president to quit.

Hundreds thronged the Syrian capital waving flags and holding pictures of the embattled leader.

They thanked the two countries for supporting him.

SOUNDBITE: Demonstrator, Noura Ghashash, (Arabic)

"We thank Russia and China and we say 'thank you'. You have backed us and a favourable view of us. The Arabs let us down. We thank you very much and God, Syria and Bashar only",

Russia says the plan it vetoed was an attempt at "regime change" in Syria, Moscow's only major Middle East ally.

The diplomatic setback comes in the light of reports of hundreds dead in the city of Homs, in the bloodiest night of the 11-month uprising.

Assad's opponents accuse him of conducting a bloody crackdown against those involved in the campaign to force him from power.

Masako Iijima Reports