197 killed in bombing of rebel enclave

DAMASCUS - Intense shelling and airstrikes targeted the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region east of the capital Damascus on Monday, as a prelude to a wide-scale offensive by the Syrian army on the key rebel bastion.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said about 127 people were killed in air raids, rocket strikes and shelling.

At least 197 people have died since the bombing intensified late on Sunday and 850 have been injured, it said.