Syria: violence continues as Russia considers possible opposition victory

(Vatican Radio) A Russian official has said for the first time that the Syrian government may be defeated by opposition forces. Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov said that President Bashar al-Assad's forces are "losing more and more control and territory. He said Russia, one of Syria's staunchest allies, was making plans for a possible evacuation of thousands of its citizens.Separately, the number of Syrians who have fled into neighbouring countries has now surpassed the half a million mark, according to the UN Refugee agency UNHCR. The agency says 510,000 Syrians are registered or are in the process of being registered in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and North Africa. "Jordan estimates that it has some 100,000 people in the country who are not yet registered. Turkey estimates there are 70,000 outside camps and Egypt is estimating a similar number 70,000 Syrians in their country not yet registered. Lebanon tens of thousands. We are noting even more arrivals elderly people, children with under the age of 18, including 22 new born infants during the night of the 9th of December. We are noting there is this trend of unaccompanied minors crossing the border. These are, of course, the kids who need most help," says Melissa Fleming from UNHCR. Meanwhile, Syria denied reports it had fired Scud missiles at rebels. Nato's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen earlier said the organisation had detected the launch of such short-range missiles, saying it showed an "utter disregard" for the lives of the Syrian people.
Listen to this report from regional correspondent Nathan Morley: