At least 52 people were killed and dozens wounded in two explosions that rocked the University of Aleppo in Syria's second largest city on Tuesday the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

State television said there had been one explosion at the university, which lies in the government-controlled area, describing it as a "terrorist attack".

Amateur video uploaded to the internet, said to have been filmed in Aleppo on Tuesday showed extensive damage to the interior of the university. Students can be seen walking through halls and rooms strewn with broken glass, desks and other equipment.

Another video, filmed outside, shows a large plume of black smoke rising from the university building.

Reuters cannot verify the content of these videos, which were obtained from a social media website.

Rebels have used car bombs and suicide attacks in fighting government forces and attacking government-controlled areas.

Fighting between rebels and government forces has reached a stalemate in Aleppo and left the city divided. Rebels say they control more than half the province.

State television footage showed at least one body lying on the street and several cars burning.

The second explosion reported by the Observatory, a British-based opposition monitoring group, may have been caused by a burning car, but there was no independent confirmation.

One of the university buildings was damaged. The state news agency said the explosion occurred on the first day of exams.

свернуть