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Syria jets 'bomb Aleppo' ahead of Brahimi UN briefing Syria conflict worsening, says UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi
(about 2 hours later)
Government forces are bombarding opposition-held areas in Syria's second city of Aleppo, activists say. The situation in Syria is "extremely bad and getting worse", UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has said.
Three children from one family were reportedly among eight people killed in air strikes in the central district of Maadi, not far from the citadel. He spoke after briefing the Security Council about his first trip to Syria since taking the post on 1 September.
There were clashes between troops and rebels overnight in several districts. Mr Brahimi said he would return soon, but admitted he did not have a full plan on how to bring peace to Syria.
The latest violence comes as the UN envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, is briefing the UN Security Council on his talks with President Bashar al-Assad. The statement comes as violence continues across the country. Activists said the government was bombing parts of the second city, Aleppo.
According to diplomatic sources at the closed-door meeting, Mr Brahimi has been describing a rapidly deteriorating situation, with Syria's food shortages looming and cultural heritage being destroyed. The activists said three children from one family were among eight people killed in air strikes in the central district of Maadi. There were clashes between troops and rebels overnight in several districts.
Syrian deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad blamed the violence on foreign-backed "terrorist groups". Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad blamed the violence on foreign-backed "terrorist groups".
He told the BBC that Syria was carrying "a message of peace and national reconciliation" to the UN's General Assembly, which starts its annual debate on Tuesday.He told the BBC that Syria was carrying "a message of peace and national reconciliation" to the UN's General Assembly, which starts its annual debate on Tuesday.
The UN says more than 20,000 people have been killed since anti-government protests began in Syria in March 2011. Activists put the death toll as high as 30,000.The UN says more than 20,000 people have been killed since anti-government protests began in Syria in March 2011. Activists put the death toll as high as 30,000.
Call for truceCall for truce
On Monday, the Local Co-ordination Committees, an opposition activist network, reported that at least 40 people had died in fighting, including 13 in Aleppo.On Monday, the Local Co-ordination Committees, an opposition activist network, reported that at least 40 people had died in fighting, including 13 in Aleppo.
Two buildings were hit by bombs dropped by government warplanes in Maadi, it said.Two buildings were hit by bombs dropped by government warplanes in Maadi, it said.
At least eight bodies had so far been found, but more were believed to be buried underneath the wrecked buildings, it added. A video posted online showed people digging through rubble.At least eight bodies had so far been found, but more were believed to be buried underneath the wrecked buildings, it added. A video posted online showed people digging through rubble.
Battles also raged overnight in the western districts of Jamilia, Bustan al-Qasr, Furqan and Zabdiya, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group. The army also shelled rebel positions in Marjah and Tariq al-Bab, it added.Battles also raged overnight in the western districts of Jamilia, Bustan al-Qasr, Furqan and Zabdiya, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group. The army also shelled rebel positions in Marjah and Tariq al-Bab, it added.
The state news agency Sana said the army had "cleansed" parts of the Arqoub, Jadida, Suleiman al-Halabi and Karm al-Jabal areas of Aleppo on Monday. Troops seized ammunition, dismantled explosive devices and "killed a large number of terrorists", it added.The state news agency Sana said the army had "cleansed" parts of the Arqoub, Jadida, Suleiman al-Halabi and Karm al-Jabal areas of Aleppo on Monday. Troops seized ammunition, dismantled explosive devices and "killed a large number of terrorists", it added.
A five-year-old girl and a man were killed during the bombardment of the southern town of Dael, in Deraa province, the Observatory reported. Six soldiers also died when a bomb exploded beside a lorry transporting them in Deraa.A five-year-old girl and a man were killed during the bombardment of the southern town of Dael, in Deraa province, the Observatory reported. Six soldiers also died when a bomb exploded beside a lorry transporting them in Deraa.
Clashes between government forces and rebels were also reported in the north-eastern and north-western districts of the capital, Damascus.Clashes between government forces and rebels were also reported in the north-eastern and north-western districts of the capital, Damascus.
The UN envoy, Mr Brahimi, discussed the conflict with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday and both agreed that it was "a steadily increasing threat to regional peace and stability", a statement said.
They also said the presence of world leaders at the UN General Assembly this week represented an opportunity to encourage increased support for addressing the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
More than 260,000 Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries, the UN says. There are also thought to be more than 1.2 million internally displaced people, and 2.5 million in need of humanitarian assistance.More than 260,000 Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries, the UN says. There are also thought to be more than 1.2 million internally displaced people, and 2.5 million in need of humanitarian assistance.
The Security Council has so far been unable to reach agreement on how to respond to the crisis, with Russia and China blocking three Western-backed resolutions seeking to pressure President Assad to end the violence and begin talks with the opposition.The Security Council has so far been unable to reach agreement on how to respond to the crisis, with Russia and China blocking three Western-backed resolutions seeking to pressure President Assad to end the violence and begin talks with the opposition.
On Sunday, representatives of 20 opposition parties tolerated by the authorities attended a conference in Damascus where they called on both sides to end the violence immediately.On Sunday, representatives of 20 opposition parties tolerated by the authorities attended a conference in Damascus where they called on both sides to end the violence immediately.
Raja al-Nasser, one of the organisers of the Syria Salvation Conference, called for an "immediate halt to the shooting, a halt to the brutal and barbaric shelling, a truce and a pause for the fighters".Raja al-Nasser, one of the organisers of the Syria Salvation Conference, called for an "immediate halt to the shooting, a halt to the brutal and barbaric shelling, a truce and a pause for the fighters".
A truce could "open the way for a political process... which guarantees a radical political change, an end to the current regime and a serious and genuine democracy," he said.A truce could "open the way for a political process... which guarantees a radical political change, an end to the current regime and a serious and genuine democracy," he said.
The appeal was dismissed by the rebel Free Syrian Army, which said the meeting was a "silly plot to mislead the international community to think there is a negotiation in place".The appeal was dismissed by the rebel Free Syrian Army, which said the meeting was a "silly plot to mislead the international community to think there is a negotiation in place".