Syria rebels load shells into tanks, Russian diplomat meets Assad

Fighters from the rebel Free Syrian Army load their missiles into tanks... and reportedly fire on government forces in the city of Homs.

Reuters can't independently verify this or other amateur video posted online Wednesday, showing similar scenes, apparently in the town of Deraa and the capital Damascus ... as rebels fire on forces loyal to President Bashar al Assad.

And as the fighting raged nearby, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov was meeting with Assad.

Moscow has long supported Assad, even supplying him with arms.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MIKHAIL BOGDANOV, RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING:

"Of course we discussed issues of the Syrian crisis. We see our objective in transferring it from a power confrontation into a phase of political settlement. We believe it has to be done as quickly as possible because every day we see more people dying, infrastructure being destroyed."

Even as the attacks against his regime have intensifie