Rebel fighters clash with government forces in Syria
(Vatican Radio) Syrian government forces have captured several rebel-held districts
in Damascus, as the rebels went on the offensive against government troops in the
northern city of Aleppo. Rebel fighters clashed with government forces in at least
a half dozen districts of Aleppo, with witnesses saying the rebels have been unable
to gain much ground, and state TV claims heavy rebel casualties. The Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights said that clashes in Aleppo have engulfed much of the city and that
government forces are shelling the rebels to prevent them from advancing. Listen
to this report from regional correspondent Nathan Morley:
Especially
heavy fighting is reported in a Kurdish district under government control. In the
capital, government troops stormed three rebel-held districts. Tanks and armoured
vehicles pushed into the areas as troops searched houses. The United Nations human
rights council has expressed renewed concern about abuses by both government and rebel
forces and extended the mandate of its war crimes inquiry by six months. Meanwhile,
Iraq's foreign minister has proposed a two-stage plan to bring both sides of the Syrian
conflict together to discuss a political transition. Hoshyar Zebari said he made the
proposal at a ministerial meeting of 20 countries mainly opposed to the government
of President Bashar Assad.