Factories ablaze as intense clashes erupt in Damascus

Intense fighting erupted Friday in a rebellious suburb of the Syrian capital of Damascus coupled by shelling that hit a number of industrial factories in the area, reports said. Pro-government media reports said the armed rebels targeted a number of detergent factories in the Damascus's eastern suburb of Sbaineh with bombshells, burning it completely and sending heavy black smoke spiraling high in the sky. Activists however said the factories were burnt due to the heavy shelling by the government troops, adding that intense fighting erupted in that area between the Syrian army and rebels Syria Free Army. Activists also reported fighting on Friday at the vicinity of the Southern Highway of Damascus, adding that government troops shelled the eastern suburb of al-Qaboun, another stronghold of rebels. They also said that the Syria Free Army militias fired mortar shells at pro-government gunmen gatherings in the Damascus's suburb of Frosieh. The pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV said the rebels also fired mortars at a military airport in the Mazzeh district in Damascus. It said the army bombarded several rebellious areas in southern outskirts of Damascus. In the meantime, witnesses said that a number of mortar shells slammed the Souk al-Hal marketplace in eastern Damascus on Friday, adding that some injuries occurred but stopped short of giving further details. No exact death toll has been revealed yet.