Syrian officials have denied US claims that government forces have used chemical weapons against rebels.

Syrian rebels are closing in on the country’s second largest airport, reportedly killing more than 40 soldiers and bringing them closer to what could be their biggest conquest since the beginning of the civil war.

Syrian troops and opposition forces are battling for control of a key highway outside Damascus, according to activists.

Syrian rebels and regime forces fought their most intense clashes in weeks inside the heavily guarded capital, Damascus, today, activists said.

Syrian activists have claimed rebels shot down a government warplane over the northern province of Idlib on Thursday, the second time in a week that opposition fighters claimed to have brought down an aircraft in the escalating civil war.

Syrian army shelling and helicopter attacks on suburbs of the capital Damascus killed at least 62 people yesterday, opposition activists said.

A Syrian military helicopter has crashed in a ball of fire after apparently being hit during fighting between government forces and rebels in the Damascus.

Syrian state television says a helicopter has been downed in Damascus.

Syria’s army deployed armoured vehicles near central Damascus as troops battled rebels around the capital in what activists said could be a turning point in the 16-month uprising.