Syrian forces have attacked several revolution bastions despite a ceasefire pledge, according to activist reports, as Russia said the opposition would never defeat President Bashar al-Assad's army even if "armed to the teeth".

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops began shelling several towns and villages early on Wednesday.
"From the Turkish border in the northeast to Daraa in the south, military operations are ongoing," Rami Abdel Rahman of the Britain-based group, told the AFP news agency.

"Tanks are still shelling or storming towns and villages before going back to their bases."

The opposition group said 58 civilians and 18 soldiers were killed on Tuesday in assaults taking place even as Assad pledged to implement by April 10 a peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.

PHOTO CAPTION

This image made from amateur video and released by the Syria media center Friday, March 23, 2012, purports to show Syrians pulling out the body of a man under the rubble of a building that was bombed in Homs, Syria.

Al-Jazeera