Syrian armed rebels take fight to government troops in Damascus

Source: The Guardian

Syrian government troops backed by helicopter gunships fought armed rebels across Damascus on Tuesday in some of the fiercest fighting since the start of the uprising, as Russia made clear it would veto a new western-backed UN resolution calling for punitive action against the Assad regime.

Witnesses described explosions and shooting in several areas just a few miles from the centre of the capital, but there was no sign that the army was losing control in what observers described as "serious but still localised" clashes.

Streets leading to Arnous and Saba Baharat squares, respectively a popular shopping area and the site of the Syrian Central Bank, were closed off, it was reported on social media sites. "Damascus is under heavy shooting, shelling by tanks and aircraft, siege," tweeted one activist from the suburbs of Damascus. Rebels also claimed to have shot down a helicopter over al-Qabun, scene of an attack on an electricity substation.

Sana, Syria's official news agency and the sole regular source of information from the government, said that security forces were "dealing with armed terrorist groups" in several areas of Damascus.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/17/syrian-armed-rebels-fight-damascus