9 August 2012 Last updated at 08:35 ET
Rebels says they have had to pull out of the Salah al-Din district of Aleppo
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Syrian rebel commanders say they have lost control of the strategic Salah al-Din district in the northern city of Aleppo after a government offensive.
The city has come under fresh bombardment, as the government attempts to recapture areas seized by rebel fighters.
The fighting comes as Iran is hosting its own international meeting on the Syrian crisis.
A new PM has been appointed to replace Riad Hijab who defected on Sunday.
The Free Syrian Army (FSA) has confirmed it has retreated from Salah al-Din, a densely packed area of narrow streets on the south-west side of Aleppo, where rebel fighters had been heavily dug in.
State media had reported the army was now in full control of the district, saying it had inflicted heavy losses on hundreds of "terrorist mercenaries".
"We have staged a tactical withdrawal from Salah al-Din," rebel commander Hossam Abu Mohammed of the Dara al-Shahbaa Brigade in Aleppo told the AFP news agency by phone.
"The district is completely empty of rebel fighters. Regime forces are now advancing into Salah al-Din."
The rebels still control several other districts, including some in the east of the city which activists say are coming under very heavy bombardment, according to the BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon.
State television reported clashes there too, in the Hananu quarter. It said dozens of rebels had been killed or wounded, while others had thrown down their weapons and fled.
On Wednesday, Syria's state military launched a large operation to retake Aleppo from the rebel fighters, who overran some districts three weeks ago.
Aleppo is Syria's largest city, and Salah al-Din is considered a vital supply route for government troops coming from the south.
The Syrian Observatory said at least 26 people were killed in Aleppo on Wednesday - it said they were among 130 people killed across the country.
Meanwhile, three days after Prime Minister Riad Hijab defected to the opposition, the health minister Wael al-Halqi has been named as his replacement.
Mr al-Halqi is a Baath Party loyalist from Deraa in the south of the country, where the uprising began in March last year, and where violence is still raging, our correspondent says.
Riad Hijab was said to have crossed into Jordan on Wednesday.
Syrian friendsSyria's staunch regional ally, Iran, says the conference taking place in Tehran is being attended by countries with a "realistic" position on the crisis.
Western governments have expressed scepticism that Tehran can mediate, because of its close relationship with the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the foreign ministers' summit would be a gathering of countries with "a correct and realistic position" on the Syrian conflict.
He said it would be an opportunity "to replace military clashes with political, indigenous approaches to settle the disputes".
Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was earlier quoted by state media as saying "12 to 13 countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America" would be taking part, but did not name them.
Kuwait's foreign ministry told al-Seyassah newspaper it would not be sending a representative. Lebanon has also said it will not attend while Russia is sending its ambassador and not Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
This is a meeting of people who are already close to Tehran and to the Syrian regime, our correspondent says.
There is deep scepticism in the West about Iran assuming a peacemaker role, given its recent strong commitments to the survival of the Assad government, he adds.
Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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Continue reading the main story
- Fear and hunger in Aleppo
- The rise of jihadist groups
- Fighting and refugees in maps
- Aleppo's battleground school
Syrian rebel commanders say they have lost control of the strategic Salah al-Din district in the northern city of Aleppo after a government offensive.
The city has come under fresh bombardment, as the government attempts to recapture areas seized by rebel fighters.
The fighting comes as Iran is hosting its own international meeting on the Syrian crisis.
A new PM has been appointed to replace Riad Hijab who defected on Sunday.
The Free Syrian Army (FSA) has confirmed it has retreated from Salah al-Din, a densely packed area of narrow streets on the south-west side of Aleppo, where rebel fighters had been heavily dug in.
State media had reported the army was now in full control of the district, saying it had inflicted heavy losses on hundreds of "terrorist mercenaries".
"We have staged a tactical withdrawal from Salah al-Din," rebel commander Hossam Abu Mohammed of the Dara al-Shahbaa Brigade in Aleppo told the AFP news agency by phone.
"The district is completely empty of rebel fighters. Regime forces are now advancing into Salah al-Din."
The rebels still control several other districts, including some in the east of the city which activists say are coming under very heavy bombardment, according to the BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon.
State television reported clashes there too, in the Hananu quarter. It said dozens of rebels had been killed or wounded, while others had thrown down their weapons and fled.
On Wednesday, Syria's state military launched a large operation to retake Aleppo from the rebel fighters, who overran some districts three weeks ago.
Aleppo is Syria's largest city, and Salah al-Din is considered a vital supply route for government troops coming from the south.
The Syrian Observatory said at least 26 people were killed in Aleppo on Wednesday - it said they were among 130 people killed across the country.
Meanwhile, three days after Prime Minister Riad Hijab defected to the opposition, the health minister Wael al-Halqi has been named as his replacement.
Mr al-Halqi is a Baath Party loyalist from Deraa in the south of the country, where the uprising began in March last year, and where violence is still raging, our correspondent says.
Riad Hijab was said to have crossed into Jordan on Wednesday.
Syrian friendsSyria's staunch regional ally, Iran, says the conference taking place in Tehran is being attended by countries with a "realistic" position on the crisis.
Western governments have expressed scepticism that Tehran can mediate, because of its close relationship with the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the foreign ministers' summit would be a gathering of countries with "a correct and realistic position" on the Syrian conflict.
He said it would be an opportunity "to replace military clashes with political, indigenous approaches to settle the disputes".
Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was earlier quoted by state media as saying "12 to 13 countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America" would be taking part, but did not name them.
Kuwait's foreign ministry told al-Seyassah newspaper it would not be sending a representative. Lebanon has also said it will not attend while Russia is sending its ambassador and not Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
This is a meeting of people who are already close to Tehran and to the Syrian regime, our correspondent says.
There is deep scepticism in the West about Iran assuming a peacemaker role, given its recent strong commitments to the survival of the Assad government, he adds.
Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions