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| Syrian army retakes key town of Qusair from rebels | Syrian army retakes key town of Qusair from rebels |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Syrian pro-government forces have taken full control of the strategic town of Qusair, state TV and the rebels say. | Syrian pro-government forces have taken full control of the strategic town of Qusair, state TV and the rebels say. |
| The town, near the Lebanese border, has been the centre of fighting for more than two weeks between rebels and Syrian troops backed by fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. | The town, near the Lebanese border, has been the centre of fighting for more than two weeks between rebels and Syrian troops backed by fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. |
| Syrian state TV said a large number of rebels had died and many had surrendered. | Syrian state TV said a large number of rebels had died and many had surrendered. |
| The rebels said they withdrew overnight in the face of a massive assault. | |
| Last week, the Red Cross said it was "alarmed" by the worsening humanitarian situation in Qusair and appeal for immediate aid access. | |
| Earlier, the military leader of the main rebel umbrella group, the Free Syrian Army, said his fighters were prepared to take the conflict inside Lebanon in pursuit of Hezbollah fighters. | |
| Gen Selim Idriss of the Free Syrian Army - the main umbrella rebel group - told the BBC that Hezbollah fighters were "invading" Syria and Lebanon was doing nothing to stop them. | Gen Selim Idriss of the Free Syrian Army - the main umbrella rebel group - told the BBC that Hezbollah fighters were "invading" Syria and Lebanon was doing nothing to stop them. |
| 'Surprise attack' | |
| Qusair lies just 10km (six miles) from the Lebanese border and along major supply routes. | |
| Syrian pro-government forces, including Hezbollah fighters, have been battling rebels for control of the town for more than two weeks. | |
| But on Wednesday, Syria's Sana state news agency said the "heroic armed forces have returned security and stability to all of the town". | But on Wednesday, Syria's Sana state news agency said the "heroic armed forces have returned security and stability to all of the town". |
| Sana said a large number of "terrorists", as the state refers to the rebels, had been killed and many had surrendered. It said the army was now destroying barricades and weapons caches and searching the town for explosives. | Sana said a large number of "terrorists", as the state refers to the rebels, had been killed and many had surrendered. It said the army was now destroying barricades and weapons caches and searching the town for explosives. |
| In Lebanon, Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV reported "widespread collapse" of the rebel forces in the town, while one Hezbollah fighter told Reuters news agency: "We did a sudden surprise attack in the early hours and entered the town. They escaped." | In Lebanon, Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV reported "widespread collapse" of the rebel forces in the town, while one Hezbollah fighter told Reuters news agency: "We did a sudden surprise attack in the early hours and entered the town. They escaped." |
| In a statement also quoted by Reuters, the rebels said: "In face of this huge arsenal and lack supplies and the blatant intervention of Hezbollah... tens of fighters stayed behind and ensured the withdrawal of their comrades along with the civilians." | In a statement also quoted by Reuters, the rebels said: "In face of this huge arsenal and lack supplies and the blatant intervention of Hezbollah... tens of fighters stayed behind and ensured the withdrawal of their comrades along with the civilians." |
| AFP news agency quoted the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist group that monitors the conflict, as saying Hezbollah fighters were in control of the town. | AFP news agency quoted the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist group that monitors the conflict, as saying Hezbollah fighters were in control of the town. |
| 'Brutality' | 'Brutality' |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says there are pockets of rebel resistance to the north of Qusair, but that the government is hailing its recapture as a strategic victory. | |
| It is likely to cut supply routes to rebels still in control of parts of the centre of the country, and so weaken their hold. | It is likely to cut supply routes to rebels still in control of parts of the centre of the country, and so weaken their hold. |
| The move is also of symbolic importance in the run-up to a proposed peace conference as neither side wants to go into the talks looking weak, our correspondent adds. | |
| Russia and the US are meeting in Geneva on Wednesday to try to arrange a date and other details of the conference. But it remains unclear whether it will go ahead as the Syrian opposition has neither confirmed it will attend nor established a credible delegation. | |
| More than 80,000 people have been been killed in Syria and more than 1.5 million have fled the country since an uprising against Mr Assad began in 2011, according to UN estimates. | More than 80,000 people have been been killed in Syria and more than 1.5 million have fled the country since an uprising against Mr Assad began in 2011, according to UN estimates. |
| The UN reported on Tuesday that the war had reached "new levels of brutality", with evidence of massacres and children being taken hostage of forced to witness - sometimes participate in - atrocities. | The UN reported on Tuesday that the war had reached "new levels of brutality", with evidence of massacres and children being taken hostage of forced to witness - sometimes participate in - atrocities. |
| There is also growing evidence that chemical weapons have been deployed in the conflict. | There is also growing evidence that chemical weapons have been deployed in the conflict. |
| France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Tuesday that samples taken from Syria and tested in France showed the presence of sarin, and that there was "no doubt that it's the regime and its accomplices" that were responsible. | France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Tuesday that samples taken from Syria and tested in France showed the presence of sarin, and that there was "no doubt that it's the regime and its accomplices" that were responsible. |
| Mr Fabius did not specify where the samples had been collected, but French media reported it had been from the northern town of Saraqeb. | Mr Fabius did not specify where the samples had been collected, but French media reported it had been from the northern town of Saraqeb. |
| The BBC was shown evidence last month which appeared to corroborate reports that government helicopters had dropped at least two devices containing poisonous gas on the town on 29 April. | The BBC was shown evidence last month which appeared to corroborate reports that government helicopters had dropped at least two devices containing poisonous gas on the town on 29 April. |
| The UK also says it has tested samples which give evidence of the use of sarin in Syria. | The UK also says it has tested samples which give evidence of the use of sarin in Syria. |
| Both the Syrian government and the rebels have in the past accused each other of using the weapons. | Both the Syrian government and the rebels have in the past accused each other of using the weapons. |