Syrian gunships hit rebels amid massacre fears, 59 killed nationwide

(AFP) Syrian gunships pounded rebels and troops clashed with insurgents in Aleppo on Friday as world powers voiced fears over an all-out assault and called for "maximum pressure" to prevent a massacre.

Columns of armed forces and armour have poured into Aleppo over the past two days, with troops firing on a string of rebel neighbourhoods in the battle for control of the pivotal northern city.

Amid widespread expectations that an increasingly desperate President Bashar al-Assad will pull out all the stops to secure Aleppo, residents of some areas of the commercial capital fled in fear of a massacre. [...]

The Observatory reported at least four deaths in Aleppo on Friday, among 59 people killed nationwide -- 27 civilians, 17 soldiers and five rebels.

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