Syrian crisis: Fresh fighting hits Damascus and Aleppo

Fresh fighting has been fought around Syria’s capital, Damascus, and in the northern city of Aleppo, where rebels are trying to secure their positions.
Most areas of Aleppo where rebels are entrenched have been bombarded by government forces.
The violence comes after a UN General Assembly vote to criticise the Security Council for failing to act on Syria and UN condemn the Syrian government for its use of violence.
The focus of the fighting is also on the southern edge of Damascus where shelling and gunfire are used, despite it was earlier stormed by government forces, says the BBC’s Jim Muir, Beirut.
Shooting and explosions were heard in some central parts of the capital, and the reports came of clashes from the western side of the city and in Dumar, including the officers’ club and a political security headquarters.
A military jet flying over what they said was the rebel-held quarter of Salah-al-Din in Aleppo followed by a loud explosion was seen when an activist showed a Video footage.
The regime has yet to unleash a concerted offensive to drive rebels out, though UN officials believe it is building up its forces for just such a campaign to regain control of a city it can’t afford to lose.
Moscow’s UN envoy, Vitaly Churkin, told reporters that the resolution was one-sided and supported the armed opposition and the Western nations praised the resolution, which was passed by 133 votes to 12 with 31 abstentions.
It criticises both the UN’s own Security Council and the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The assembly debated the resolution, which was proposed by Saudi Arabia, shortly after the resignation of UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan and the failure of his six-point peace plan.
More than 20,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in 17 months of unrest.