The Cutting Edge

Syrian security forces clashed again with rebels Saturday, as they fought for control of a state TV station in the northern city of Aleppo and government troops bombarded rebel-held areas of Damascus. The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that about two dozen people were killed in unrest Friday. The U.N. General Assembly approved a non-binding resolution Friday that condemned Syria's use of heavy weapons in the fight against rebel forces. The vote also criticized the U.N. Security Council for failing to stem the violence. Syria blasted the General Assembly's action.

The country's U.N. ambassador, Bashar Ja'afari called the resolution a "piece of theater" that would have no impact on the country. U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said the Syria conflict is now a "proxy war" and he urged major powers to end the violence. He said "the immediate interests of the Syrian people must be paramount over any larger rivalries of influence."

Russia and China have vetoed three Security Council resolutions on Syria. Ban said the Council has become "paralyzed" over the issue.