Rebels capture Syria police academy near Aleppo – activists

PanARMENIAN.Net - Rebels have captured large parts of a Syrian police academy near Aleppo, after a fierce battle resulting in heavy loss of life, activists say, according to BBC News.

Video emerged on Saturday, March 2 apparently showing rebels breaking into the sprawling Khan al-Assal compound.

Almost 200 fighters had been killed on both sides over eight days, UK-based activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said. The group's reports could not be independently confirmed.

Their account said more than 34 government soldiers and police died on Sunday alone - an apparent setback for government forces a day after the army announced it had regained control of villages on a major route linking the central city of Hama to Aleppo, with security "restored" to the northern city's airport.

A police source in Aleppo later confirmed that much of the academy had fallen into rebel hands, the AFP news agency reports.