video transcript

A funeral service in Turkey for five Free Syrian Army Soldiers who were killed in Syria's Idlib province. Refugees and relatives gather to pray and weep for them. A young girl tries to come to terms with her father's death. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DAUGHTER OF A REBEL GAZI HACI YOUSEF KILLED IN IDLIB, ELISAN HAJUN, SAYING: "My father has gone to heaven. I love my father very much. I wish I could see him now. I wish he could give me a hug and kiss me now. I could die for him. I wish I died instead of him." The bodies of the rebels were brought to Turkey early Saturday morning by their relatives. More than 2,000 Syrians, including a defecting brigadier general, have fled to Turkey in the past 48 hours to escape the violence. The 17-month uprising against President Bashar-al Assad's rule is creating a refugee crisis in Turkey and other neighboring countries. Opposition sources say at least 18,000 people have been killed since the revolt began in March 2011. Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters