Activists: Shelling in embattled northern province in Syria kills at least 20

BEIRUT – Syrian activists say shelling in the country's embattled northern province of Aleppo has killed at least 20 people.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the shelling took place in the town of Tel Aran on Friday.

The Observatory, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, says the civilians were killed in two separate incidents.

The group says seven people died when forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fired on their car. Another 12 people were killed in a shelling attack on the town.

Clashes between government forces and rebels from two al-Qaida-linked factions have intensified in Tel Aran over the past two days.

According to the United Nations, at least 100,000 Syrians have been killed in the country's civil war, now in its third year.