Rebels claim they're now in control of a central square in Aleppo, as the decisive battle for Syria's second-largest city intensifies.<br/> <br />One rebel commander said his forces have security checkpoints set up throughout the city, as the fight tips in their favour.<br/> <br />The rebels say troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been forced to retreat.<br/> <br />But the battle has been bloody, with many civilians reportedly trapped in the crossfire.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) REBEL COMMANDER ABU ADHAN SAYING:<br/> <br />"They are firing at us, we have been hit by rockets, I can show them to you. They fired at us here in the heart of the city, they hit anywhere - they don't care about the civilians."<br/> <br />The battle for Aleppo is seen as a crucial turning point in the bloody 17-month-old uprisings against the Assad regime.<br/> <br />Sarah Sheffer, Reuters
