Syrian army kills 62 as rebels shoot down helicopter

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

Eleven of the dead were killed in the district of Jobar, where activists said a Syrian helicopter was downed earlier in the day.

Rebels yesterday claimed they shot down an army helicopter during fierce fighting in Damascus, saying it was to avenge the “massacre” of more than 330 people in the town of Daraya blamed on regime forces.