Fears are that al-Qaeda might get its hands on the weapons if the regime collapses. Rebels announce attack on state TV headquarters. Reports say Assad and his wife have already left the capital. Today's UN Security Council is not expected to take tangible steps.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - Columns of black smoke rose over Damascus on Thursday, a sign of this morning's intense fighting. After yesterday's attack that killed the Defence minister, his deputy and the head of crisis management office, the rebels announced their intention of taking the TV headquarters. Network employees were issued an ultimatum to leave the building immediately.

At least 214 people-124 civilians, 62 soldiers and 28 rebels-died on Wednesday in one of the bloodiest days of the revolt, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

For many observers, events in Damascus are a sign of the regime's possible collapse. Unconfirmed reports are already saying that President Bashar al-Assad left the city for the safer Latakia, whilst his wife is in Moscow.

For his part, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the Security Council must "shoulder its responsibility and take collective and effective action" because "Time is of the essence. The Syrian people have suffered for too long. The bloodshed must end now."

However, his appeal is not likely to find an answer today. The Security Council, which was supposed to meet yesterday, is still divided between Assad allies, Moscow and Beijing, and those in favour of further sanctions, the West and Arab nations.

In addition to the ongoing fighting and political differences, fears are now turning to Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons.

Speaking to CNN, King Abdullah of Jordan warned that they might fall "into unfriendly hands," i.e. al-Qaeda whose presence in Syria is now considered very likely.

The fate of chemical weapons is also a major concern to the United States.

The New York Times wrote today that US President Barack Obama's national security advisor Thomas Donilon travelled to Israel to discuss a possible Israeli action to take out Syria's weapons facilities. (PD)

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