Decisive battles intensifying in Syria key cities

DAMASCUS, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Clashes have intensified overnight and after daybreak Saturday in Syria's both key cities, the capital Damascus and northern Aleppo province, in what appeared to be decisive battles between armed insurgent groups and government forces.

Sounds of incessant shelling and gunfire have striped the Damascus night of its calmness, as witnesses said the army has been cracking down on armed rebels, who were entrenched in populated areas of Tadamun, Dummar, Daf al-Shouk, Jobar and Arbeen.

In parallel to the Damascus fights, the country's largest city, Aleppo, has seen a very tense night with reports of rebels taking control of the state-run Syrian TV and radio center in the crucial city.

Syrian state media denied the rebels' control of the state media establishment and said the army has responded to the attacks of the armed men.

Quoting an official source at Aleppo, SANA said that news broadcasted by some "tendentious" TV channels about the terrorists ' seizure of the TV and Radio Center is "absolutely untrue."

It added that competent authorities clashed overnight with terrorist groups that had tried to break into the center, leaving a big number of them killed and wounded.

In the meantime, the state news agency SANA said Syrian forces clashed before day break Saturday with an armed group at Khan al- Assal area in western Aleppo and killed and wounded several terrorists and seized their weapons.

SANA stressed that the "heroic" army forces are chasing Arab and foreign "terrorist mercenaries" in Aleppo with "valiantly and determination."

Syrian forces raided late Friday a hideouts used by terrorists at al-Arbaeen district in the central province of Hama, killing several of them and arrested some others, SANA said.

In the northeastern city of Deir al-Zour, Syrian forces hunted down at al-Mayadeen area an armed group, adding that clashes left a number of the terrorists killed and wounded. Enditem