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| Syria army 'storms' rebel town Qusair | Syria army 'storms' rebel town Qusair |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Syrian government forces have surrounded the rebel stronghold of Qusair and are storming it from several directions, says Syrian state TV. | Syrian government forces have surrounded the rebel stronghold of Qusair and are storming it from several directions, says Syrian state TV. |
| Fighting has gone on around the town, near the Lebanese border, for weeks. | Fighting has gone on around the town, near the Lebanese border, for weeks. |
| Syrian opposition activists said government air strikes and heavy shelling had killed at least 16 people in the town so far. | Syrian opposition activists said government air strikes and heavy shelling had killed at least 16 people in the town so far. |
| Opposition groups say militants from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement are fighting alongside government forces. | Opposition groups say militants from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement are fighting alongside government forces. |
| There are also reports that hundreds of Lebanese Sunni militants have joined the fight on the rebels' side, says the BBC's Jim Muir, in Beirut. | |
| Assad unbending | |
| News of the assault on Qusair came as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed to continue the "fight against terrorism". | |
| In his first interview since the US and Russia announced plans for a peace conference, Mr Assad told an Argentine newspaper that the meeting should focus on stopping the flow of money and weapons to "terrorists". | |
| He rejected suggestions he might stand down, saying a captain did not abandon his ship and presidential elections next year would determine his future. | |
| Both sides in the conflict describe fierce hostilities around Qusair, where rebels have been under siege for weeks. | |
| Activists have reported heavy bombardment since the early morning. | |
| Our correspondent says the town is of strategic importance for both sides. | |
| It would give the government command over routes between the capital Damascus and the coast, while for the rebels, it means they can come and go freely from neighbouring Lebanon, our correspondent says. | |
| Last week, the US state department said it was concerned about reports that Syrian forces had dropped leaflets on Qusair, warning that it would come under attack if opposition forces failed to surrender. |