'At least 35 killed' in Damascus

Syrian regime forces shelled two central Damascus districts today before troops backed by tanks swept through to carry out house-to-house raids, killing at least 35 suspected rebels, in a major flare-up of fighting in the Syrian capital, activists said.

The capital is one of many fronts President Bashar Assad’s regime is struggling to contain as the 17-month-old rebellion against his rule gains strength.