AMMAN/BEIRUT- Syrian rebels clashed with forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, while across much of the city streets were deserted and houses and shops shuttered for fear of violence after Wednesday's killing of three close Assad allies. Efforts to forge a diplomatic solution appeared to collapse when Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that threatened Syrian authorities with sanctions if they did not stop using heavy weapons and pull troops from towns. In Damascus, residents said the city appeared paralysed after the killing of Assad's brother-in-law, defense minister and a top general in a bomb attack on a security meeting. Some districts suffered heavy shelling. Syrian TV flashed a warning on its screen, telling residents that gunmen disguised in Republican Guard uniforms were spreading through several of Damascus's troubled districts, saying "they are planning to commit crimes and attack people." Activists also issued counter warnings, saying real Republican Guard forces were in Midan. "We tapped into their walkie-talkies ... we are afraid of a massacre," said activist Samir al-Shami. Assad, who had no made no public statement or appearance since the stunning bombing attack on a crisis meeting of his defense and security chiefs, was shown on Syrian television on Thursday at the swearing in of his new defense minister. "Everyone is looking now at how well Assad can maintain the command structure. The killings yesterday were a huge blow, but not fatal," said a Western diplomat following Syria. Residents said there was no let-up in the heaviest fighting - now in its fifth day - to hit the Syrian capital in a 16-month revolt against Assad. His family has dominated for 42 years the pivotal Arab country bordering Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. Western officials fear rising unrest in Syria, which some have called a civil war, could spill across its borders. Residents said a heavy onslaught of security force shelling and firing from helicopters went through the night and continued on Thursday in Damascus. Some reported explosions in the troubled north-eastern and southern districts of the capital. A witness said rebels attacked the main police headquarters in Damascus. "Gunfire has been intense for the past hour. It is now dying down but the streets around the police command remain empty," said a resident of Qanawat, an old central distric where the Damascus Province police headquarters is located. Areas without fighting were largely deserted. Residents said the roads to many southern districts where fighting was heaviest were closed or peppered with checkpoints. The streets of the city centre were nearly empty and there was no trace of the rebels, even as the sound of fighting could be heard in several areas. Most shops were shuttered. But in areas where there was fighting, some of it leaving a trail of bloody corpses in the streets, residents were nervous and confused.
