Syrian rebels enter strategic Aleppo neighborhood

Activists say Syrian rebels have taken control of at least part of a strategic neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo after days of heavy fighting.

The Aleppo Media Center opposition group and Aleppo-based activist Mohammed Saeed say rebels seized control of the predominantly Kurdish neighborhood of Sheik Maqsoud in its entirety late Friday.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, however, says rebels took only the eastern part of the neighborhood, and reported heavy fighting there Saturday.

The Observatory also said rebels captured a pro-government Sunni Muslim cleric, killed him, then paraded his body around the neighborhood.

State-run Al-Ikhbariya TV identified the cleric as Hassan Seifeddine. It said he was beheaded and his head was placed on the minaret of Al-Hassan Mosque where he used to lead the prayers.