the syrian capital in the last four days damascus has been seen for what the opposition and free syrian army have dubbed the final battle for damascus a decisive battle for the syrian capital shootings have been heard in very different parts of the syrian capital warsaw have seen black smoke drifting over the city's

because the free syrian army has no weapons or any. this is now for the free syrian army.ore important right now for the u.s. to take the historical decision, take actions p.m. the security council to mobilize the committee within the confines to implement the safety zone along with the turkish border and jordan much more expected. enthusiastic. to implement the safety zone also was between the jordanian and the syrian border. the safety zone is a priority right now, especially for the civilians. fort a humanistic -- humanitarian assistance, the cities and the people who are in need. even that we have a defective safety zone. the number block of syria, still attacked by the air force. this is why it is an important to have a no-fly zone on of the disney area to protect the civilians. finally, many questions about the chemical weapons. there is no much more permission exactly. today this book, and enough of the military. the regime will not use any given the -- chemical weapon if only they had been attacked by outsiders. i don't believe in that because the assad regime used

the free syrian army or differing groups within the free syrian army control many areas in northern polar syria, and there is no political authority.

that killed at least six including the defense minister this massive suicide blast with the free syrian army already taking credit for this blast sometimes the west refers to these are members of the free syrian army as freedom fighters we know president bashar al assad referred to them as terrorists one might imagine that a suicide bombing would fall into the category of terrorism oh do if you would for the meantime bring us up to scratch up to the present and what's been happening in damascus in the build up to this explosion. well the syrian capital has been going through really tough times these last four days. and it's actually been going through. it's become a scene for heavy clashes between governmental troops and rebels who want to see this regime diluted who wants to bring it down by force the fighting has reportedly been taking in at least five neighborhoods in damascus all in southern part of the capital and the heaviest have reportedly taken place in an area known as me don and today a free syrian army has claimed that they are totally control in the area while we've been hearing

the opposition free syrian army has claimed responsibility for the bombing. syria's information minister blames arab and western governments. their intelligence agencies and spies are responsible, he said. a syrian official did tell me tonight the government is horrified at how easily the bomber appears to have entered the building. almost immediately after the blast a new defense minister was appointed and for the first time state television broadcast these pictures meant to reassure the public. on the one hand, they do show syrian soldiers taking on the opposition, on the other hand they are proof-- along with today's bombing-- that a deadly opposition offensive is in the heart of the syrian capital. >> pelley: liz, many hours after the bombing, has anyone seen president assad? >> no. right afterwards everybody wondered where he'd been then the syrian news agency made a point of saying he had appointed the defense minister. in other words he's alive but hasn't been seen. wherever he is tonight he must be wondering after this lethal breach of security who, if

syrian government and between the forces kind of group together under the name of the free syrian army many of whom of course are not even syrians they come from other countries. they have no interest in democracy or political reform they're there for a cause they've been whipped up by the shakes there i mean. in the gulf to kind of take part in this struggle we've seen what what happened in damascus over the last week the syrian couple appears to kind of beaten down the challenge by these by these groups infiltrated aleppo and same way that they a few months ago infiltrated homes inside the suburbs getting about is going to be very very bloody operation. the syrian government must win this and so i think the point of view of the free syrian army the group calling itself that they must win this world because if they don't we have next and in fact that question has to be asked of their foreign backers because one has to realize this whole operation is an orchestrated event and the people behind. the stories are you said that this whole operation of what's going on in syria is an orchest

dlp us remember how the free syrian army got started. >> well, it started out as a trickle of syrian soldiers who claimed they refused orders to fire on civilians. they deserted to form the free syrian army. within months, there were dozens of groups across the country but with no clear coordination or command structure. we spent time with rebel eyghters in idlib. most fighters we met were farmers and workers with little military training. ney told us they had no choice. they had to fight after government forces shot peaceful thotesters. ereir weapons were no match for hee army's tanks and artillery, even bullets were scarce. now the fighters appear to be sition organized and armed. rebels told us they confiscated many weapons from government forces or bought them on the black market. this opposition video appears to oaow free syrian army soldiers operating a tank commander from the syrian military, but this was an exception. userebels have relied mostly on homemade roadside bombs to pierce the military's heavy armor. ordielley: the question becomes are the rebel mrs. unified than the

led coalition was supporting these terrorist attacks committed by the free syrian army and also al-qaeda affiliated entities now we've got ample evidence that the government is not responsible for these crimes against humanity and atrocities but in effect. the free syrian army which is supported financed by the united states nato the gulf the gulf of the allies of the gulf persian gulf and sentra. the free syrian army other quickly is involved in getting innocent civilians and then blaming the government for the crimes that they themselves have been committed have committed and we've got lots of material on that and also the question is it is sort of. course responsible for these kids well that's a good good point isn't it because also all this violence in kelso stood up the sectarian tensions and whether a sad goes whether he's toppled with external force or in the near future that's not going to solve the sectarian tensions that have now raised to the surface when it. well you know six terran violence is the trigger through. intelligence and military operations which are led by the uni

this is why right now there are many concerns on security situation here in damascus obviously free syrian army has already claimed responsibility for what happened but we're also hearing that some world news agencies are saying that the man who carried out the said tag has been one of president bashar al assad's bodyguards of course given how massive the loss was we can understand that they have been many people killed but so far we only have information on six people all of them security syrian security leadership and also been here in that there's been many civilians killed and many many damages caused by these blasts of the buildings and cars around well. this is actually all we have for the time being now our memory if i may just say as the violence is heating up in damascus and surrounding areas where you are there in syria so if the international community is responding in kind of certainly just got a statement here just in the past few moments from the u.k. foreign secretary william hague he saying quote that today's bombing in damascus confirms the urgent need for the u.n. security cou

thousands of shia muslims are in danger of massacred by the free syrian army and groups affiliated with them she writes watch has learned from many shia muslims living in the area that the free syrian army has threatened to massacre all the shia in the area unless they flee yet not everybody is scary the way. a sunni syrian and an m a share iraqi have been neighbors and friends for seven years ever since the killing of animals has been forced here to leave iraq they say we want freedom what freedom do you want in syria mosques you have girls with their heads covered and girls with their heads uncovered you have christians sunni's and shiites and they say they want freedom but is this the way to treat your country when you want freedom but iraqis know better than anyone else how relentless and how damaging the foreign quest for freedom would be some of our t.v. reporting from damascus in syria. still to come for you here in the program on r t catching a glimpse of the killing in syria. actually. it's like you feel you are in the center of stuff tourists flock to the israeli occupied gola

it was claimed by the damascus clan of the free syrian army. >> [speaking foreign language] >> the free syrian army has promised more surprises. its commander based in turkey had a special message to mark the start of ramadan. all the officers and members of the free syrian army congratulate the people on the onset of the blessed month of ramadan in the hope that this month would usher certain victory. >> but the regime is already claiming victory itself. at least here, one of the parts of southern damascus where the fighting has been heaviest. >> we have cleansed the area and we are now in full control. some residents were forced to flee. ransacked shops as well as public and private buildings. >> state television said at least 20 mercenary terrorists were killed, their bodies carefully laid out for the camera. it's said some of them were foreign arab nationals. battling for state survival, television is constantly running propaganda film showing the army as the protector of the people. but the regime's grasp has clearly slipped at border posts along the iraqi frontier where rebels too

liz, when you talk to the free syrian army people, what are their concerns going forward? >> reporter: well, they're concerned this is going to be a long fight and a very costly one. and the people we talked to here also are concerned about what they see as a split in the free syrian army. and they say that the fundamentalist islamic brigades are getting more money, more support, and maybe even the upper hand in this fight and that's not going down well with everybody. >> pelley: elizabeth, thank you. syria rarely allows recorders into that country but our clarissa ward managed to get in and earlier today she sent us a short description of what this war looks like on just one street in just one town. >> reporter: syrian tanks pulled out of this village yesterday and residents here tell us that they are thrilled to have their liberty. but look at the scene that was left behind. people here told us that helicopter gun ships swooped in here on thursday and obliterated this entire street and just look at this crater. this is the result of those rockets slamming into the earth.

weapons get to the next if you want to talk about how we don't know who everybody is in the free syrian army to direct their extremist elements should that be more. concern over you know securing whatever stockpiles they do have and securing the borders to make sure that those stockpiles are moving transnationally is going to be absolutely crucial but look we don't know if and when the syrian government is going to fall right my current guess is that this war is going to take a lot longer to work itself out because of the complexities within syrian society and my concern is that this war is going to start spilling over the border into israel and turkey and iraq and other places so we should worry about the chemical weapons problem we should do the diligence and figure out where this stuff is and we should intervene in a very limited sense to make sure it doesn't move to places that we don't want to see it move but we don't know what the end game looks like yet so we shouldn't be talking about an end game until we're close with i think that you know when people star is going on for seventeen

them she writes watch has learned from many shia muslims living in the area that the free syrian army has threatened to massacre all the shia in the area unless they flee yet not everybody is scary the way. a sunni syrian and a share iraqi have been neighbors and friends for seven years ever since the killing of animals has been forced here to leave iraq they say we want freedom what freedom do you want in syria you have mosques they have girls with their heads covered and girls with their heads uncovered you have christians sunni's in shiites they say they want freedom but is this the way to treat your country when you want freedom but iraqis know better than anyone else how relentless and how damaging the foreign quest for free there would be. on the boycott r.t. reporting from damascus in syria. still ahead for you this hour war for some show time for others. really something that you want to see some. very but there is an attraction to see the thing that actually occupies the museum we were poor and why vantage point on the israeli border with syria has become a tourist attraction

kerin this is exactly what we're hearing right now from iraqi deputy interior minister that free syrian army soldiers are now controlling all four border crossings at the syrian iraqi border but without top official has also said that the iraqi guards have witnessed extreme violence from the side of free syrian army soldiers from opposition fighters that they exert executive several iraqi guards in front of the eyes of their colleagues there this is what we are hearing so far although no more details we have also been able to see posted on you tube from another crossing border crossing this time from this era in turkish border where gunmen have been shouting religious slogans and. portrays and this is apparently the border crossing at the turkish syrian border which is also now under control of the free syrian army soldiers but i have to point to things here very important things this is war and the fighting is still going on it is continuing and from time to time sides can see success and this success could be temporary so. if free syrian army. has been able to take control over some crossi

is why right now there are many concerns on security situation here in damascus all visibly free syrian army has already claimed responsibility for what happened but we're also hearing the. news agencies a say that the man who carried out the said tag has been one of president bashar assad's gods. given how massive the last will so we can understand that there's been many civilians killed and many many damages caused by these blasts the buildings and cars around the syrian capital has been going through a really tough times in the last seventy two dollars in the last full day as we've been going through was free syrian army and opposition and old forces trying to bring. assad regime down as dogged as final battle. the decisive battle for damascus we've been hearing in a very different parts of the capital we've been seeing in black smoke drifting over the city. and we've also been hearing helicopter is not only flying over. the oldest continuously inhabited capitals in the war but also firing so it's been a very dramatic picture actually here on the ground and people here those who we've bee

syrian free army. as you know. there are some clashes in the city in some parts of the far east. side of the city syrian retreat for. the freighters there are just some. by some helicopter we can't break through the fences are very full. fossil organisations the volunteers that are trying to help those people government in the trying to help by opening the school they are trying to help these things to work and to give them what being the berries are really knowledge for to see changes but not the people will. change but a gun or change by force you know they will. because we are full of examples in other cities like dance like. other cities. i think we ring in for people in syria is think the change in. peace in a political way by council forces the focus of the conflict shifted to aleppo off the army flushed i want to describe these militants from the key districts of the capital damascus but the u.s. has shaken off the setback handing the rebels actions in pledging additional support from the investigative website who was why the com says the mainstream media is singing in choo

syrian free army and as you know b.p. there are some pressure being the city in some parts of the far east and with side of the city syrian military force are these papers there are just some of them by. helicopter we can't take the truth sensors of those of the military for we shan't see the mosul organizations the volunteers that are trying to help those people from government in the trying to help by opening the school they are trying to help these things a chance to work and to give them what they need their is a really knowledge to see changes but not the people will be changed by gun or change by force you know they will just because when we pull of bad example in other cities like dance like um our. other fifty's. i think the big we ring it for people in syria is seeing the change in. peace in a political way by counterforce of the focus of the conflict shifted to aleppo of the army flush to what it describes as militants from key districts in the capital damascus but the u.s. has shaken off the setback hailing the

them she writes watch has learned from many shia muslims living in the area that the free syrian army has threatened to massacre all the shia in the area unless they flee yet not everybody is scary the way. a sunni syrian and a share iraqi have been neighbors and friends for seven years ever since the killing of animals has been forced here to leave iraq they say we want freedom what freedom do you want in syria mosques they have girls with their heads covered and girls with their heads uncovered you have christians sunni's in shiites they say they want freedom but is this the way to treat your country when you want freedom but iraqis know better than anyone else how relentless and how damaging the foreign quest for freedom would be on the boycott r.t. reporting from damascus in syria. keeping a close eye on the developments in syria with crews reporting from the heart of the country from the boyko isn't damascus bringing you the latest updates and pictures via twitter country says people are beginning to return after last week's rebel assault on the city with damage to the infrastruc

civil war and that's a welcome change because until then the media was painting the so-called free syrian army as a bunch of ragtag guerrillas with no training and with very light weapons and with and that they are outnumbered and that basically this is a war of the state against its own people the fact is on the ground the i.c.r.c. itself now says a civil war which acknowledges basically that the opposition is heavily armed it has the capacity to inflict damage on the on the government forces and that most obviously defectors a bunch of defectors with no training cannot be so heavily armed and organized it means there's external support that part is totally been covered up in the western media projection of this war it's been shown as some kind of indigenous movement of freedom fighters against the us of dynasty when the fact remains that you know there is significant external support and we need to really uncover that and that's why we need alternative media the other way is it will be a battle of perceptions that will be lost by those who need a peaceful transfer of power in cedar rather th

free syrian army soldiers are now controlling all four border crossings at the syrian iraqi border but the top official has also said that the iraqi guards have witnessed. from the side of free syrian army soldiers from opposition fighters we also been able to see the to post it on to from the syrian turkish border where gunmen have been shouting religious slogans and shooting. portrays a free syrian army has been able to take control over crossings at the border that means that they they are very determined in large scale operation against regime of president bashar al assad but that doesn't necessarily mean that they still keep in this control because everything changes very fast we've been here on the ground for almost fifty days already and i have to say what we've been able to see in the last five days has been the most dramatic moment for the syrian capital of the clashes between the army and the rebels have been taking place in at least five districts all of damascus and it's been extremely difficult to get in side these districts but on thursday we finally managed to do that an

i have witnessed extreme boilers from the side of free syrian army soldiers from opposition fighters we also been able to see the to posted on you tube from the syrian turkish border where gunmen have been shouting religious slogans and shooting. portrays a free syrian army has been able to take control over crossings at the border that means that they they are very determined in large scale operation against the regime of president bashar al assad but that doesn't necessarily mean that this keeping this control because everything changes very fast we have to be very careful with information and even with picture is we see because since the beginning of this our prize in it's also been media war and just recently we've been hearing from opposition that they've managed to take control over the airport just yesterday we were at the airport here in damascus that it's functioning normally been here on the ground for almost fifty days already and i have to say what we've been able to see in the last five days has been the most dramatic moment for the syrian capital of the clashes between t

thousands of shia muslims are in danger of massacred by the free syrian army and groups affiliated with them she rights watch has learned from many shia muslims living in the area that the free syrian army has threatened to massacre all the shia in the area unless they flee yet not everybody is scary the way. a sunni syrian and an m a share iraqi have been neighbors and friends for seven years ever since the killing of animals has been forced here to leave iraq. it is never said who love each other like sisters and i will remain in syria no matter what in this country there are mosques in nightclubs there are sunni and shia there are christians in bombay leavers everybody is free to choose for themselves and it should stay like that but iraqis know better than anyone else how relentless and how damaging the foreign quest for freedom would be on the boycott r.t. reporting from damascus in syria. the situation in syria and whether it's now at a tipping point is the focus of today's cross talk coming up later today here on r.t. and here's a quick look at what's ahead. syria threatens no on

it is one documented that there are training camps and lebanon is a base of support for the free syrian army so yes it should have issued though it should have been much much before. until now or let's talk about some of the opposition here the rebel movement ongoing in syria russia says the president assad has no reason to back down as long as the rebels continue to carry out terror attacks and occupy cities do you think do you think it is a possibly time for foreign forces to step in between and get involved. well since there are still terrorists terrorizing the population in syria who are kidnapping citizens who are committing crimes. in the first step to any any further enforce as a buffer zone must must an agreement for all of the by the west to by the west to stop funding and arming these terrorists so it can't have oftens on made by foreign forces right now. is pointless because we don't you you are you ready for you raise a very very good point you're saying that a buffer zone by international forces is pointless because. because if for example if the west it is known who else is fun

map of syria it is surrounded by the countries that are being used to smuggle weapons for the free syrian army we are talking about turkey lebanon on iraq possibly even jordan just a few days ago the reuters news agency published a story quoting an f.s.a. officer who was boasting about new deliveries of rocket propelled grenades katyusha rockets anti-tank missiles on the top of that refugee camps on the border with these countries being used as a recruitment grounds for the syrian opposition my colleague mario for the trouble to one of them on to lebanese border just a few days ago and she says that people who run these camps make no secret that they provide humanitarian assistance only to the f.s.a. sympathizers so in this context it's hardly surprising that the syrian authorities reject the idea of humanitarian corridors they believe that all these humanitarian talk is here and not their efforts to give a strategic military advantage to the other side also if such corridors were established the syrian government would automatically cede control over a certain parts of its term tree and they

them she writes watch has learned from many shia muslims living in the area that the free syrian army has threatened to massacre all the shia in the area unless they flee yet not everybody is scary the way. a sunni syrian and an m a share iraqi have been neighbors and friends for seven years ever since the killing of animals has been forced here to leave iraq they say we want freedom what freedom do you want in syria we have mosques we have girls with their heads covered and girls with their heads uncovered we have christians sunni's in shiites and they say they want freedom but is this the way to treat your country when you want freedom but iraqis know better than anyone else how relentless and how damaging the foreign quest for freedom would be. on the boycott r.t. reporting from damascus in syria syria's opposition says thousands of government troops have been moved to the country's commercial hub of aleppo the city has been plagued by fierce street battles for almost a week now since the rebels moved in from the outskirts artie's wanted to cut short by phone with a reporter who is

thousands of shia muslims are in danger of massacre by the free syrian army and groups affiliated with them she rights watch has learned from many shia muslims living in the area that the free syrian army has threatened to massacre all the shia in the area unless they flee yet not everybody is scary the way. a sunni syrian and an m a share iraqi have been neighbors and friends for seven years ever since the killing of animals has been forced here to leave iraq they say we want freedom what freedom do you want in syria mosques we have girls with their heads covered and girls with their heads uncovered we have christians sunni's in shiites they say they want freedom but is this the way to treat your country when you want freedom but iraq is no better than anyone else how relentless and how damaging the foreign quest for freedom would be on the boycott r.t. reporting from damascus in syria. on friday saudi arabia unleashed its police on protesters who have been demanding reforms and and to discrimination activists say around fourteen demonstrators were injured after officers used tear gas