Syria crisis: Is the balance of power shifting?

At least 34 people are reported to have been killed and many injured by two car bomb explosions in a south-eastern district of Syria's capital, Damascus.

The attacks targeted a district loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and follow two weeks of military gains by rebel fighters in the north and east of the country.

Meanwhile, rebels claim to have bought down a government helicopter using a surface-to-air missile for the first time.

Residents are continuing to flee the most troubled parts of Syria, with the UN predicting that neighbouring countries will be sheltering around 700,000 registered refugees by the end of 2012.

Paul Wood reports.