Year end brings no break in Syrian conflict

An unverified amateur video has been posted on a social network site reportedly showing elite government troops attacking rebels in a bid to take control of Daraya, a strategic suburb of Damascus. Five people including a child were killed from rocket fire say opposition activists.

There were similar scenes in northern Idlib in the town of Maaret al-Numan. One report suggests Syrian rebels in the Aleppo region have been forced to make their own weapons with one member quoted as saying, “no one’s giving us any support”.

The refugee problem has not eased as thousands pour across the borders of Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. It’s estimated over half a million have fled the 21-month-old conflict which has claimed the lives of around 45,000.

On the diplomatic front Syria’s government has said it welcomes any initiative for talks to end bloodshed. The comments from Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi come after UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said he had a peace plan acceptable to all sides.

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