Syrian army kill 111 armed rebels in two cities

At least 111 armed men were killed Saturday during clashes with the Syrian troops in the northern city of Aleppo and the coastal city of Latakia, the pro- government Sham FM reported.

The Syrian troops killed 11 armed men who had tried to enter al- Nabi Ynus area in the countryside of Latakia, the report said, adding that the confrontation led to the killing of one army soldier.

It said the Syrian troops carried a "qualitative" operation at Qastal Harami area in Aleppo Saturday, killing 80 armed men.

Also in Aleppo, 20 armed men were killed Saturday by the Syrian troops at Bab al-Hadid area, the report said.

Aleppo has emerged as the main battleground between the Syrian regular army and the rebel Free Syrian Army, who has been trying for months to win control over the crucial northern slice of Syria.

Meanwhile, the oppositional Local Coordination Committees (LCC), a network of activists, said a leader of a rebel battalion in the capital Damascus was killed Saturday in the eastern al-Ghouta area due to the intense shelling by the government troops on that area.

The LCC identified the killed leader as breakaway Lt.-Col. Omar Mohammad Taha.

It said the Syrian security forces arrested a human rights activist identified as Dr. Omar Arnous after raiding his Damascus house at early hours Saturday.

The LCC placed the initial death toll of Saturday's violence at 46 people nationwide.

The activists' claims were impossible of being checked independently.