Syria: Clashes erupt in area where UN troops held

Clashes between Syrian rebels and regime forces erupted Saturday near a village where UN peacekeepers are being held hostage, an activist said, possibly complicating efforts to free them.

UN officials said arrangements are in place for the release of the UN peacekeepers, but that a rescue mission on Friday was aborted because of regime shelling in the area. Rescue efforts were to resume on Saturday, officials said. (AP)