Fierce offensives reported in Aleppo, China rejects Clinton's criticism over Syria

Activists struggling to topple the regime of President Bashar Assad reported fierce government offensives to try to retake rebellious areas outside of the northern city of Aleppo and near the capital Damascus.                  

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on an activist network inside Syria, called the shelling of a number of villages in Aleppo province "the most violent" since the army launched a recent campaign to retake control of the area.                

The group said that rebels in the area had killed many regime soldiers in recent months. It did not provide casualties for the recent fighting.                          

Despite mounting international condemnation, Assad's regime has largely held together. On Saturday, however, France announced the defection of Brig. Gen. Manaf Tlass, an Assad confidant and son of a former defense minister who helped ease Assad into power.

In international reactions, China has rejected criticism by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that it is hampering efforts to end the Syrian conflict by supporting President Bashar Assad's government.                

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said in a statement Saturday that Clinton's remarks were "totally unacceptable" and that China has contributed greatly to the cause of Syrian peace.                  

He said China has wide international support for its "just and constructive" stance on Syria.                 

"Any effort to slander China and incite discord between China and any other country will be futile," Liu said.                   

Clinton told about 100 nations attending a conference on Syria on Friday that they should "directly and urgently make it clear that Russia and China will pay a price" for standing up on behalf of the Assad government.
 
AP