Two Western journalists are reported to have been killed Two Western journalists are reported to have been killed near the city of Homs in Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. One is said to be Frnench while the other\'s nationality  remains unknown. the deaths occured when a round of mortar attacks landed on a site investigated by journalists.
Little information is available so far but the Syrian ministry of information said it was aware of incidents involving foreign nationals in the city were the uprisings began.
Separately, state news agency SANA said an army colonel and two soldiers were killed and two others wounded by a \"terrorist group\" as they were travelling to join their units outside Damascus.
And another colonel was captured by an \"armed terrorist group\" as he headed to a military airport in Homs province.
They have not been named.
Earlier on Wednesday, Presiden Bashar Al Assad joined thousands of his supporters in a rare public appearance telling the cheering crowd that those currently attacking the regime will fail. He told his supporters that he was from them and drew strength from their support.
In an official address to the nation, Assad has blamed the revolt on foreign-backed terrorists and conspirators and promised to crack down on them with \"iron hand.\"