Rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al Assad have declared Damascus International Airport a battle zone, warning civilians and airlines they would approach it "at their own risk".
Fighting around the capital city has intensified over the past week, prompting predictions among Western opponents of Mr Assad that an endgame is approaching in a 20-month-old conflict that has killed 40,000 people.
Syria's Government, however, says the army is driving rebels back from positions in the suburbs and outskirts of Damascus.
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