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Syrian Clashes Leave Residents Without Water


In this Friday, Sept 7, 2012 photo, Free Syrian Army fighters run after attacking a Syrian Army tank during fighting in the Izaa district in Aleppo, Syria.
In this Friday, Sept 7, 2012 photo, Free Syrian Army fighters run after attacking a Syrian Army tank during fighting in the Izaa district in Aleppo, Syria.

Water supplies to residents in the Syrian commercial hub Aleppo were cut on Saturday after a major water pipe was damaged during intense fighting between government forces and rebels.

Opposition activists say the pipeline was hit as Syrian forces shelled rebel targets. Syrian officials accused rebels of sabotage in the incident, which left several communities without water.

Also Saturday, rockets fired from Syria landed in an Iraqi border town, killing a five-year-old girl. It was unclear who fired the rockets.

Meanwhile, foreign and diplomatic efforts are underway to try to resolve Syria's 18-month-old anti-government crisis, a conflict that has left 20,000 people dead and forced thousands to flee from their homes.

On Saturday, European Union foreign ministers meeting in Cyprus agreed to pursue efforts to increase sanctions against Syria.

Also, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urged Syrian opposition groups to collaborate. She said it was important for Syrians to feel they were "part of the future."

The group also pledged cooperation with Lakhdar Brahimi, the new U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria. He is due to discuss Syria's crisis with Arab League officials in Cairo on Sunday.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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