Syrian rebels took control of key crossings on the borders with Iraq and Turkey while fighting raged in rebel strongholds in the Syrian capital and some of the country’s border areas yesterday as Russia and China blocked western efforts at the UN to threaten sanctions against the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
The government sought to assert its authority in the face of opposition claims of a mounting Damascus insurrection and with the regime still reeling from the bomb blast that killed at least three top security figures on Wednesday.
Retaliating for the rebel attack that struck the inner circle of the regime, loyalist forces shelled opposition neighbourhoods in the capital, killing 95, according to local activists.