Damascus: A series of government air strikes on rebel areas in the
country's north has killed at least 20 people, says Syrian activists and
medics.
According the media reports strikes erupts
late Wednesday and early Thursday and hit a total of four towns in Idlib and
Aleppo provinces, including the rebel-held town of Maaret al-Numan. Medics
added that a number of children are among the dead.
Videos of the strikes posted online show leveled buildings
and survivors pulling bodies from the debris. Activist claims and videos could
not be independently verified.
International peace
envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said Thursday that a temporary cease-fire he has called
for in Syria could form the basis for a real truce in the war-torn country.
Brahimi will travel to Damascus in the next few days in an attempt to broker
the cease-fire.
The U.N.-Arab League envoy told reporters, Thursday after
meeting Jordan's foreign minister that a respite in hostilities could build
confidence and help bring about a longer truce in the 19-month-old conflict.
A previous cease-fire
in April collapsed after just a few days, with each side blaming the other.
Then-mediator Kofi Annan resigned from his post in frustration.