Civil servants are breaking ranks as well:
At least 233 members of President Bashar al-Assad's ruling Ba'ath party have resigned en masse, according to Insan blogger Wissam Tarif. … Tarif tweeted that the army even opened live bullets on members of the Syrian parliament that tried to access the city of Dar'aa, currently under siege. Tarif's sources on the ground say the checkpoints are attempting to isolate the city as homes are being raided, shooting is reported in suburbs, and 87 young men were just arbitrarily detained.
More from AJE:
On Monday the Christian Science Monitor reported opposition activists claiming the Syrian intelligence services executed the general, his sons and nephew because they were showing signs of sympathy for the protesters.
Abdullah, who arrived in Damascus from Deraa on Wednesday, confirmed exchanges of fire were still taking place. "The army is fighting with some armed groups because there was heavy shooting from two sides," he said. "I cannot say who the other side is, but I can say now that it is so hard for civilians."
Abdullah said the military assault on Deraa appeared to be escalating. Even as he left the border city to return to work in Damascus, Abdullah said he saw lines of tank-carrying lorries steaming south. "They are preparing for a big operation. It is not finished yet."
The above footage was shot in Homs.
The Dish 