Syria steps up offensives ahead of cease-fire

Syria steps up offensives ahead of cease-fire

BEIRUT (AP) — Troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad shelled two restive central cities and sent tanks and snipers into battle against rebels in the capital’s suburbs today, broadening an offensive that appeared aimed at crushing pockets of opposition less than a week before an internationally sponsored cease-fire is to take hold, activists said. With fighting escalating, the stream of Syrians fleeing to neighboring Turkey picked up considerably this week. Turkey’s disaster management agency said more than 2,700 refugees arrived on Thursday and early today, pushing the total to nearly 24,000.