Syria's prime minister makes a rare visit to Aleppo.<br/> <br />State television shows Wael al-Halki at a conference on Monday (December 17), in the city which has seen fierce fighting between government troops and rebel fighters.<br/> <br />The visit is the first in months by a senior figure from President Bashar al-Assad's government.<br/> <br />The prime minister took office earlier this year when his predecessor defected.<br/> <br />At the conference, he pledged four million dollars in aid to help food and fuel shortages in Aleppo.<br/> <br />Civilians in parts of the city face huge hardships as heavy fighting turns areas into war zones.<br/> <br />The government has traded blame with rebels over the lack of support to rebel-held areas.<br/> <br />Opposition activists say government forces block aid as a form of collective punishment.
