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Syria crisis: 'Barrel bomb strikes kill 71' in Aleppo province Syria crisis: 'Barrel bomb strikes kill 72' in Aleppo province
(about 5 hours later)
At least 71 people have been killed in Syria's northern Aleppo province by barrel bombs dropped from government helicopters, activists say. At least 72 people have been killed in Syria's northern Aleppo province by barrel bombs dropped from government helicopters, activists say.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 59 people died in the strike on al-Bab - a town currently held by Islamic State (IS) militants. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 60 people died in the strike on al-Bab - a town currently held by Islamic State (IS) militants.
It says 12 people were killed in the city of Aleppo. It says 12 were killed in a rebel-held quarter of the city of Aleppo.
Syria's government has repeatedly denied using barrel bombs - large containers filled with explosives.Syria's government has repeatedly denied using barrel bombs - large containers filled with explosives.
The bombs, dropped by helicopters, are among the most deadly and inaccurate weapons used by government forces, and are reported in many parts of the country every day. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which gathers information through a network of activists in Syria, called it one of the worst massacres perpetrated by the government so far this year.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 59 people were killed in the attack on Al-Bab's busy market on Saturday. The SOHR says at least 60 people were killed in the attack on al-Bab's busy market on Saturday morning after government helicopters dropped two barrel bombs in quick succession.
The casualties were reported to be overwhelmingly civilians, including women and children, and the number of dead was expected to rise because many of the casualties suffered serious injuries. Many of the victims were blown to pieces or burnt beyond recognition by the blasts, which devastated the market, shops and vehicles, reports the BBC's Jim Muir from neighbouring Lebanon.
The group, which gathers information through a network of activists in Syria, called it one of the worst massacres perpetrated by the government so far this year. Most of those killed or injured were men, because women do not appear much in public in areas controlled by IS, as al-Bab has been for some time, our correspondent adds.
It says another 12 people were killed in Aleppo's rebel-held Shaar area, including eight members of a single family. In Aleppo, a man told the BBC he ran to the site of the barrel-bomb attack to find a vehicle on fire with around eight civilians dead inside it.
The Syrian government has made no public comment on the report, which has not been independently verified. Activists report barrel bombs being dropped from government helicopters every day in different parts of the country.
They consist of steel drums packed with explosives and shrapnel - and sometimes with chlorine also added, according to many reports.
They are highly inaccurate, and often cause massive damage and indiscriminate casualties in built-up areas.
The Syrian government has made no public comment on the reports, which have not been independently verified.
In February, Human Rights Watch group accused Damascus of dropping barrel bombs on hundreds of sites in 2014, violating a UN Security resolution.In February, Human Rights Watch group accused Damascus of dropping barrel bombs on hundreds of sites in 2014, violating a UN Security resolution.
In an interview with the BBC also in February, President Bashar al-Assad denied his forces used barrel bombs. Dismissing the allegation as a "childish story", he said: "There are no barrel bombs. We don't have barrels."In an interview with the BBC also in February, President Bashar al-Assad denied his forces used barrel bombs. Dismissing the allegation as a "childish story", he said: "There are no barrel bombs. We don't have barrels."
Aleppo has been divided between government- and rebel-held areas since fighting erupted in the former commercial hub in 2012.Aleppo has been divided between government- and rebel-held areas since fighting erupted in the former commercial hub in 2012.
More than 220,000 people have been killed across Syria since the start of the uprising against President Bashar in 2011, according to UN estimates.More than 220,000 people have been killed across Syria since the start of the uprising against President Bashar in 2011, according to UN estimates.
Earlier this month, Amnesty International released a report accusing government forces and many rebels groups of committing war crimes on a daily basis.