24 killed in blasts by rebels in Syria\'s Aleppo

A total of 24 people were killed and many others wounded when Syrian rebels' shelling and explosions targeted government-controlled districts of the Northern city of Aleppo, Syria's official TV and other local media reported. At least 15 shells slammed into Bab al-Faraj, Baroun Street, and the vicinity of the court house in Aleppo, following the rebels' blast that ripped through the industrial chamber and the adjacent electricity station in Saba Bahrat area of Aleppo, the report said on Sunday, Xinhua reported. Meanwhile, the official media said the Syrian army recaptured the al-Matahen area, besieged the al-Ramoseh area and advanced into the al-Ameriyeh area in Aleppo on Sunday. The opposition activists said the Syrian helicopters dropped explosive-packed barrels on the rebel-held al-Sha'ar district, adding that terrorists have blasted out a military outpost in the vicinity of the old castle of Aleppo. The Islamic Front, a coalition of powerful six extremist groups, said in an online video footage that it was carrying out attacks against the areas of Sweika and al-Zahrawi in Aleppo, saying that they aimed at completing the siege on the castle of Aleppo, in which the government troops are stationing. However, a Syrian military source told the pan-Arab al-Mayadeen as stressing that the government troops foiled the attack on the two areas. As the battles continue in Aleppo, once called Syria's economic hub and largest city, the al-Mayadeen TV said the Syrian army recaptured the coastal town of al-Samra, following intense battles. The town has recently been stormed by the rebels. Amid the grinding violence, the Syrian Supreme Constitutional Court continued to receive the registration applications of Syrians who are running for the June 3 presidential elections. On Sunday, the Syrian parliament announced the candidacy of four runners for the top post, bringing the overall number of elections' runners to six. Yet, President Bashar al-Assad, whose term will end in July, has yet to announce his candidacy for a third 7-year term.