Syrian state TV airs footage of government forces fighting on the streets of Damascus.<br/> <br />They government says they are fighting armed terrorists.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED GOVERNMENT SOLIDER, SAYING:<br/> <br />"We are here because the civilians requested that we come and liberate the country from terrorists and armed gangs".<br/> <br />Damascus and Syria's second biggest city, Aleppo, have come under heavy fighting as President Bashar al-Assad steps up efforts to crush rebel forces.<br/> <br />A bomb attack that killed four of Assad's closest lieutenants last week prompted his enemies to say that Assad time in power is drawing to a close. But in the days that have followed Assad's forces have noticeably toughened their response.<br/> <br />Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
