Aleppo families flee, report says

Dozens of families and some opposition fighters have started leaving besieged rebel-held neighborhoods in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo after the government opened safe corridors for those who want to leave, state media reported.

Opposition activists denied the reports, saying that state media were trying to falsely suggest that civilians were fleeing the area in large numbers.

The government closed the main road into rebelheld areas of Aleppo on July 17, effectively besieging the 300,000 people living there. Last week, Syrian President Bashar Assad offered amnesty to rebels who lay down their arms and surrender to authorities in the next three months.