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Syrian rebels and army clash around Aleppo prison Syria rebels 'in assault on Aleppo prison'
(about 2 hours later)
Syrian government troops and rebels have clashed around a prison in the flashpoint northern city of Aleppo. Rebel fighters have launched a massive assault on the prison in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, reports say.
Reports suggest the rebel fighters may have tried to blow up the walls of the prison, which holds some 4,000 inmates. The rebels apparently detonated two car bombs to blast through the walls of the prison, which holds 4,000 inmates including anti-government activists.
Activists said government forces had counter-attacked using tank shells and air raids. The opposition said government forces had counter-attacked using tank shells and air raids.
Meanwhile, the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) vowed to punish criminals after a video appeared apparently showing a rebel biting a dead soldier's organs. Meanwhile, rebels say claims one of their commanders desecrated the body of a soldier will be investigated.
In Aleppo, rebels appear to have detonated car bombs outside the walls of the prison on Wednesday morning, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based activist group. Clashes continuing
Government sources claimed to have fought back, injuring and killing opposition fighters. In Aleppo, rebels appear to have detonated car bombs outside the walls of the prison on Wednesday morning, the UK-based activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Clashes were still continuing early on Wednesday afternoon, according to a BBC reporter in Damascus. Officials said government forces fought back, injuring and killing opposition fighters.
Web blackout Rebel sources to the BBC that they had broken into the prison, and had made progress in their fight against government forces.
The FSA put out a statement saying its field commanders had been instructed to "to begin a prompt investigation" into the video in which a well-known insurgent from the city of Homs, Abu Sakkar, is shown apparently cutting out the soldier's heart. Clashes were reported throughout the day.
The rebels have not stated what the purpose of the assault was, but the jail is reported to be holding some 250 inmates linked to the anti-government uprising.
In other developments:
'Eat your hearts'
The rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) has vowed to punish criminals after a video appeared online apparently showing one of its commander cutting out the heart of a soldier.
"Any act contrary to the values that the Syrian people have paid their blood and lost their homes to will not be tolerated, the abuser will be punished severely even if they are associated with the Free Syrian Army," the FSA said, according to AFP news agency."Any act contrary to the values that the Syrian people have paid their blood and lost their homes to will not be tolerated, the abuser will be punished severely even if they are associated with the Free Syrian Army," the FSA said, according to AFP news agency.
"The perpetrator will be brought to justice," it said. "The perpetrator will be brought to justice."
In the video, which cannot be independently authenticated, Abu Sakkar is shown standing over the soldier's corpse, saying: "I swear to God we will eat your hearts and your livers, you soldiers of Bashar the dog." The FSA said its field commanders would investigate the video, which shows well-known rebel commander Abu Sakkar standing over the soldier's corpse as he says: "I swear to God we will eat your hearts and your livers, you soldiers of Bashar the dog."
US-based Human Rights Watch said his actions were a war crime.US-based Human Rights Watch said his actions were a war crime.
Also on Wednesday, a US-based web monitoring company said that Syria appeared to be experiencing a nationwide internet blackout for the third time in six months.
Renesys Corporation said that Syrian internet services had gone offline at 10:00 local time (07:00 GMT).
The UN says nearly 80,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Assad began in March 2011, and millions have fled their homes.The UN says nearly 80,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Assad began in March 2011, and millions have fled their homes.
BBC World Service's Newshour will broadcast a two-hour special edition about Aleppo at 19:00 GMT on 15 May.BBC World Service's Newshour will broadcast a two-hour special edition about Aleppo at 19:00 GMT on 15 May.