Hundreds flee Damascus: NGO

Hundreds of Damascus residents fled from clashes and army shelling of several districts of the embattled Syrian capital, a rights watchdog reported, as the military gave them two days to get out.

The military said residents have 48 hours to leave areas where clashes are taking place between security forces and rebels, a security source told AFP.

"These extremely violent clashes should continue in the next 48 hours to cleanse Damascus of terrorists by the time Ramadan begins" on Friday, the source said, referring to the Muslim holy fasting month.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog said "hundreds of people" fled several areas.

In the western district of Mazzeh, hundreds of people were on the move, "fearing a large-scale operation by regime troops," the Observatory said.

Residents also fled the southern district of Tadamon and the Palestinian refugee camp Yarmuk for an unknown destination, it added.

The latest developments come a day after a bombing in Damascus killed three top officials, including the defence minister and President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law, in a severe blow to the very heart of the regime.

"The army has so far exercised restraint in its operations, but after the attack, it has decided to use all the weapons in its possession to finish the terrorists off," the security source said.

The source also said that "the army has told residents to stay away from combat zones, as the terrorists are trying to use residents as human shields."

On Wednesday, at least 214 people were killed, including 124 civilians, across Syria. That included 38 in Damascus on the fourth day of unprecedented clashes in the city between rebels and troops, the Observatory said.

The toll did not include the three top regime officials.

"From today onwards, we turn a new page... and Syrians now believe they are at a turning point," the official Al-Thawra newspaper said on Thursday.

"The traitors, agents and mercenaries are deluding themselves if they think that Syria will bow to this strike, even if it hurts," said the ruling party's mouthpiece, Al-Baath newspaper.

Wednesday was one of the bloodiest days in Syria since the outbreak of the revolt in March last year, second only to the relentless bombing of Homs on February 4, in which 230 people were killed.