Report: Mortars fired in Syrian capital for first time

Security forces fired mortars into a district on the outskirts of Damascus on Thursday, activists said, the first time an area in the Syrian capital has been shelled since the 16-month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began.

Activists in the Kafar Souseh neighbourhood of Damascus said security forces were firing mortars into orchards on the outskirts of the city, close to the capital's southern highway, to try to force out rebels they believe are hiding there. (Reuters)