Syria's TV denies reports of rebels taking over several areas

DAMASCUS - Syrian state TV denied Thursday a barrage of media reports saying that the rebels have taken control of areas in the capital and elsewhere, showing instead a footage picturing killed armed men by the government forces.

It said the media reports, mainly broadcast on the Saudi-funded al-Arabyia TV, aim to lift up the morale of the armed opposition fighters.

The state TV said the army troops is carrying on with their mission to eliminate the armed groups and flush them out of troublesome districts of Damascus. The TV aired a footage picturing killed people, allegedly armed men, lying on ground with weapons beside them in Qaboun district of Damascus.

Activists said the Syrian army overrun Qaboun with tanks, and said that more than 100 people had been killed nationwide Thursday. However, the activists' claim couldn't be verified independently.

Syria's media has been broadcasting messages to the Syrian people, warning them of an alleged foreign media campaign that aims at spreading false news about the collapse of the current administration, especially as the capital is witnessing severe clashes.