Scores dead in Syrian rebels army base recoup

Syrian opposition fighters retook a strategic base in the northern Aleppo province after fighters, including members of two al-Qaeda affiliates, launched a counterattack against regime forces.

Clashes left at least 53 people dead – 33 rebels and 20 government soldiers, however the fighting led the rebels to recapturing parts of the 80th Brigade base on Friday. Opposition fighters have held the Aleppo stronghold for nine months before government forces briefly pushed them out.

In Aleppo city, shelling by regime forces killed at least 11 people, including four children while in the northwestern Ashrafiyeh district, which is largely under regime control, five people, two of them children, were killed by mortar fire.

State television also reported deaths in the area, saying six children had been killed by "terrorists" - its term for opposition fighters.

Fighting erupted as the main opposition group began a two-day meeting in Istanbul to decide whether they will attend a proposed peace conference the US and Russia are trying to convene in Geneva.

The Syrian National Coalition has demanded that President Bashar al-Assad steps down to any transitional Syrian government as a condition for going to Geneva. However Syrian officials held Assad would stay in his post at least until his terms ends in 2014 and possibly run for re-election.