Rebels beg West for more arms after Aleppo routing

A security source in Damascus said that government forces were "advancing quickly" in Salah-al-din towards Saif al-Dawla.

"But the next big battle, which will be very fierce, will be in the Sukari district," he added.

Around the capital Damascus shelling has been reported in outlying edges of the city, where rebels also were active.

Syrian troops say they have purged the rebels from the capital after intense, week-long battles last month, but opposition fighters continue to stage hit-and-run attacks and are active in the suburbs

Rebel supporters across many parts of the country rallied after midday prayers today, urging the international community to arm the opposition.

"Give us anti-aircraft guns. Where is your conscience?" read a poster held by a protester in the village of Kfar Zeita in Hama province.

Underscoring the world community's reluctance to arm the fighters, Britain's government said that it is giving an extra £5 million worth of non-military aid to rebels.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said the funds would pay for items including satellite phones, power generators and medical kits.

He said diplomats would also intensify contacts with the "political wing" of the Free Syrian Army.

Britain has previously given £1.4m to Syria's opposition.

The US has also earmarked a fund of $25m (£16m) to spend on non-lethal kit.

The relentless fighting has triggered a fresh wave of civilians streaming across the border into neighbouring Turkey to escape the war.

Officials said more than 1,500 Syrians arrived over the past 24 hours, increasing the number of refugees in Turkey to about 51,500.

Meanwhile in New York UN diplomats said former Algerian foreign affairs minister and longtime UN official Lakhdar Brahimi is a strong candidate to take over from Kofi Annan as envoy to Syria.

The frantic search for a replacement suggested the international community can see no alternative to diplomacy to try end the conflict.

But rebels said they have had enough of diplomacy and renewed appeals for weapons.

foreigneditor@peoples-press.com