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Syrian army attacks Aleppo

28 July 2012 10:43 (UTC +04:00)

The BBC’s Ian Pannell, in Aleppo, has seen skirmishes, with a number of rebel fighters wounded or killed.

Rebels with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) say they have repelled an army incursion and destroyed tanks, but there is no independent verification. Western nations have warned of a potential massacre in Aleppo, Syria’s most populous city.

Early on Saturday morning, activists said Syrian tanks began moving in on south-western districts of the city. They said the bombardment of rebel-held areas intensified in the early morning, with military aircraft overflying the city at low altitudes. Many casualties have been reported, our correspondent says, and a steady stream of vehicles carrying families is leaving Aleppo. Syrian state television said that rebels, having failed in Damascus, were now trying to turn Aleppo into a den for their terrorism.