A thick cloud of black smoke blankets the city of Homs once again.
This footage from a video streaming website shows smoke billowing from a major oil pipeline which was hit by an explosion according to witnesses.
The city has become the centre of the 11-month uprising that has been raging against four decades of the Assad family rule.
But amid the turmoil, President Bashar al-Assad has ordered a referendum on a new constitution.
The announcement, made on state TV, said the vote would be held on February 26.
The new draft constitution is part of a set of reforms introduced in response to the insurgency.
If passed it would restrict the president to serving a maximum of two terms of seven years and introduce a pluralistic party system.
But with cities such as Homs in open revolt, critics say holding an inclusive referendum will be impossible.
Simon Hanna, Reuters.
