Fierce fighting erupts in Syria's Aleppo: Rights group

AFP , Sunday 29 Jul 2012

Death rates continue to rise as revolt continues in Aleppo

Fierce fighting erupted in rebel-held districts of Aleppo early on Sunday, a day after opposition forces repulsed an offensive by government troops in Syria's second-largest city, a human rights group said.

"Intense clashes took place in the districts of Bab al-Hadid, Zahraa, Arkub and Al-Hindrat Camp as explosions were heard and aircraft were sighted overhead," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Helicopter gunships flew over the Saif al-Dawla district as well as Salaheddin, where rebels held off an offensive by ground troops backed by tanks and helicopters on Saturday, the Britain-based watchdog said.

In the central city of Homs, a battle broke out near the police headquarters between troops and rebel fighters, of whom at least one was killed.

Near the capital, sniper fire killed a civilian in the town of Irbin, the Observatory said. Two more were killed in shelling in Idlib province in the northwest.

On Saturday, violence killed 168 people -- 94 civilians, 33 rebels and 41 soldiers, the Observatory said.

More than 20,000 people have died in Syria since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's rule broke out in March last year, according to the watchdog's figures

It is not possible to check casualty tolls independently in Syria. The United Nations has a troubled military observer mission in the country but has stopped giving figures for the overall death toll.

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