Report: Syrian Army seals off Damascus following attacks on the capital


Syrian government troops on Saturday closed all roads leading to the capital, Damascus, after opposition rebels attacked checkpoints in various parts of the city, activists said.

"Around 13 army checkpoints were attacked at the entrances of the capital, Damascus. This prompted the government troops to close areas, especially those leading to the eastern, western and southern suburbs of the capital," Haytham Abdullah, a Syrian activist based in Damascus, told dpa.

He added that government troops were mounting a wide-scale crackdown eight kilometers from Damascus.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that four rebels had killed in clashes near government offices located between the towns of Harasta and Irbin north east of Damascus.

Syrian state television reported that the army had "destroyed a number of vehicles and motorcycles used by terrorists" in Harasta and Daraya, key pro-rebel areas near Damascus.

Rebels are at pains to seize Damascus airport and a main road leading to it in an attempt to cut supply lines to government troops, say activists.

Both sides have been fighting near the facility for more than a week.

[link to www.haaretz.com]