SYRIA: President Bashar Assad's regime is on the brink of collapse.

Nato Secretary- General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the collapse is "only a matter of time".

He confirmed earlier reports that Nato had detected Syrian forces launching short-range missiles at opposition forces within Syria, saying this illustrated the "utter disregard" for the lives of the Syrian people.

Syria's foreign ministry has denied claims, saying reports the government is using Scud missiles against rebels are a conspiracy.

The row came as 16 people were killed in a bomb blast near Damascus, Syria's state news agency said. At least half of the dead were reported to be women and children after a car packed with explosives blew up near a school in Qatana suburb.

Earlier, Syria's most powerful ally, Russia, said for the first time that Assad is losing control of his country.

The comments dramatically shift the diplomatic landscape at a time of enormous opposition momentum.

Deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov's remarks are likely to be seen as a betrayal in Damascus and could persuade many Syrians to abandon support for the government.

Mr Bogdanov told a hearing at the Kremlin: "An opposition victory can't be excluded."