Fierce battles in Aleppo

on 28/09/2012 13:53:56

Syrian troops and rebels are fighting some of the fiercest battles in the northern city of Aleppo, activists said.

The clashes are part of a new push by the rebels to drive regime forces out of Syria's largest city and commercial capital after weeks of stalemate.

Aleppo-based activist Baraa al-Halabi said some of the heaviest battles are taking place in a predominantly Kurdish neighbourhood.

The major rebel group in the city - the Tawhid Brigade - said on its Facebook page that its members have entered the Sheikh Maksoud neighbourhood to fight pro-government Kurdish gunmen.

Meanwhile, state-run Syrian TV said government troops repelled an attack on the neighbourhood with the help of its residents.

Aleppo was once a bastion of support for president Bashar Assad.