It is estimated 200,000 civilians have fled fighting in Syria's biggest city of Aleppo.

Syrian troops fired tank shells and artillery today at neighbourhoods in Aleppo as rebels tried to repel a government ground assault against their positions in Syria's largest city, activists said.

Syria has promised to stop fighting in time for the deadline for a ceasefire brokered by special envoy Kofi Annan.

At least fifteen soldiers were killed and fifty others injured in an explosion at an ordnance depot outside the Syrian city of Aleppo today.