A Syrian warplane crashed in flames in eastern Syria in disputed circumstances yesterday as President Bashar al-Assad’s forces pursued their drive to quell rebels in Aleppo and elsewhere.

Syrian rebels fighting to oust President Bashar al Assad need the protection of foreign-guarded no-fly zones and safe havens near the borders with Jordan and Turkey, a Syrian opposition leader said yesterday.

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.