500 killed in Syria rebel-jihadist fighting

DAMASCUS: Nearly 500 people, among them at least 85 civilians, have been killed in a week of fighting pitting Syrian rebels against jihadists in the north of the strife-torn country.

The fighting raged as Western governments that back the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad prepared to intensify pressure on the opposition to participate in peace talks with the regime planned for later this month.

A new front opened last Friday in Syria´s nearly three-year-old war, when powerful massive rebel groups combined to attack bases and checkpoints of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

While the jihadists were initially welcomed by other rebels, allegations of brutal abuses against civilians as well as rival opposition fighters sparked a backlash, and even accusations that they were serving the interests of the regime.

"We have documented the killing of 482 people in the fighting -- 85 civilians, 240 members of the rebel brigades and 157 members of ISIL," said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman.

Among the civilians and rebels killed were 42 hostages who were executed in Aleppo by ISIL.

Rebels also executed 47 ISIL members, mainly in Idlib province in northwestern Syria, Abdel Rahman said.

"The rest of the deaths came during the fighting. It is likely dozens more people have lost their lives, but it is impossible to accurately document all the killings," he added.

He called for "crimes being committed in Syria to be brought before an international court.

"Jihadist-rebel fighting has raged mainly in Aleppo, Idlib and Raqa provinces. On Friday, rebels continued to advance in much of Aleppo and Idlib, where ISIL´s presence was relatively weak, while the jihadists had the upper hand in Raqa, which has been under their control for several months.

ISIL has its roots in Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and first appeared in the Syrian conflict in spring last year.