Syrian army presses drive to secure Damascus perimeter

The Syrian army shelled the outskirts of Damascus yesterday in a drive to establish a secure perimeter around the capital, including the key airport road that has come under sustained rebel attack. The 27-kilometre highway remained perilous a day after troops said they had reopened the key link to the outside world in heavy fighting that followed deadly fire on a bus carrying airport staff and at least two attacks on UN convoys, a watchdog said. Syrian internet and mobile phone links were back yesterday after a three-day blackout, state news agency SANA saying the outage had been due to maintenance. Troops were in action against rebel fighters entrenched in both the southwestern outskirts of the capital and the eastern suburbs, where the ariport lies, human rights monitors and opposition activists said. Southwest of the capital, “the army shelled orchards that extend from Kfar Sousa to Daraya and are taking on rebels who control the region,” said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists and medics on the ground. A Daraya-based activist told AFP by satellite link that regime forces were using warplanes and tanks to hit the town. “We are...